National Portfolio Organisation status for 2023 to 2026
Our libraries are welcoming hubs in the heart of our communities. They're places where you can learn, get creative and connect with our borough’s rich culture.
We’re delighted to have been chosen as a National Portfolio Organisation for 2023-2026. This will allow us to support cultural activities across our libraries for years to come.
This funding from Arts Council England recognises all our hard work. We've developed high-quality and accessible cultural programmes everyone can enjoy.
It will help us to deliver more exciting and inclusive activities, inspiring people of all ages to engage with culture. It will also help us to work more closely with our communities and support local groups.
Our ‘All In’ programme and it's ambitions
Over the next three years, we'll deliver ‘All In’, our programme of creative events and activities.
We believe libraries and culture should be for everyone. For our first year as a National Portfolio Organisation, there'll be a range of activities. These will connect our communities with culture through our libraries.
They'll also help us deliver on our libraries strategy ambitions and Arts Council England’s ‘Let’s Create’ vision for the future.
Activities will include:
- a new Barnsley Book Festival
- library lates
- creative and artistic residencies
- micro-commissions
- a new pop-up space to reach out into our communities
- wellbeing interventions for our home library service
We've lots more planned as part of our ‘All In’ programme and National Portfolio Organisation status. Keep an eye out on Barnsley Libraries’ social media channels for more details.
Our steering group
We’ve recently created our ‘All In’ steering group to work with us over the next three years. They'll help guide, support and monitor our activities. They'll also champion our libraries and events.
How you can get involved
We want to kickstart our plans as a National Portfolio Organisation by showcasing the region’s creative talents. As part of our ‘All In’ programme, we’re offering a series of Creative Commissions.
This is your opportunity to create something with our libraries team that you may not expect t find in our spaces. You could do this in your local library, with with our home library service or travelling to community libraries across Barnsley.
Whether you’re a musician, poet, sculptor or artist of any kind, we want to see your ideas.
Express your creative side by applying to our Creative Commission or six Micro Commissions. Get your proposals in before the end of July.
For more details and how to apply, please visit the Arts Jobs website.
More information
Our 'All In' programme is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
