Cultural sector unites as Barnsley bids to be UK Town of Culture 2028

Dozens of cultural organisations and creative individuals are backing Barnsley’s bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028.  

It was announced two weeks ago that a group of organisations are working together on a bid for Barnsley to become UK Town of Culture 2028 and secure the £3 million prize to deliver a transformational cultural programme.   

Both before and since that announcement, we’ve been reaching out to cultural groups and partners to back the bid, with an overwhelming response.  

More than 40 creative individuals, groups and cultural organisations have expressed their support. We had 20 partners attend a session at the Digital Media Centre last Friday to help prepare the bid. There’s still time for organisations to get involved, and time for residents to tell us their views about culture to help shape the bid at barnsley.gov.uk/consultations 

Organisations supporting the bid so far include: ArtWorks South Yorkshire, Barnsley Civic, Barnsley Community and Voluntary Services, Barnsley Council, Barnsley Youth Choir, Borough Collective, 01226 Collective, The Dearne Playhouse, eQuiPT Therapy Services,  Feels Like Home, Gary Clarke Company, Jolly Good Communities, Maurice Dobson Museum and Heritage Centre, the National Trust’s Wentworth Castle Gardens, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, plus a wide range of artistic and creative individuals and groups.  

A working group including a range of representatives from these groups is working together on a formal expression of interest to the government to begin the process of bidding for Town of Culture status. This will be submitted at the end of this month. 

Winning UK Town of Culture 2028 would be an opportunity to recognise and build on the wealth of creativity already happening right across the borough. It would be a chance to bring together every part of our cultural landscape to stage an inspirational cultural programme for all residents, businesses and visitors to take part in.   

Cllr Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said:

“We always knew we had a rich and varied cultural sector, and that they worked together to help make culture an everyday part of people’s lives. However the way they’ve all come together to support Barnsley’s bid for UK Town of Culture has been overwhelming.  

“There’s so much support for this in Barnsley and beyond. Thank you to everyone who has been involved or given their support so far. We want every part of our borough to be involved in Town of Culture, and with all the groups we have backing the bid and pulling together to tell our story, I know we’ll be making a very strong case for Barnsley to win UK Town of Culture 2028.” 

Mat Wright MBE, Artistic Director and founder of Barnsley Youth Choir, said:

"Barnsley is a very special place which richly deserves to be UK Town of Culture. The young people who make up our BYC Senior Choir have been successful in international competitions and have ranked among the very best choirs in the world. But it isn't just about them. We have around 700 members aged from 0 – 24 years old who all come together every week to make music. We're one of many organisations who work so hard to provide cultural experiences for local people, young and old, right across the borough. 

"Barnsley is rich with talent and possibilities. Being named UK Town of Culture would be the perfect opportunity to celebrate that on a national stage and to embed culture even further into the everyday life of Barnsley people. Barnsley Youth Choir fully supports Barnsley for UK Town of Culture 2028." 

We’re still gathering local views to help shape the bid. We’re asking residents to complete a short survey. This will help us understand what makes Barnsley special to you, the kinds of events and activities people value, and how a Town of Culture programme could benefit communities across the borough. Your responses will help inform the Barnsley story, ideas, priorities, and evidence included in the Town of Culture Expression of Interest. Visit barnsley.gov.uk/consultations before midnight on Sunday 15 March to complete the survey.  

Any other cultural organisations or groups who would like to be involved, kept informed, or simply want to ‘back the bid’ are encouraged to email culture@barnsley.gov.uk to register their interest. They can also fill in the survey.