About

Our Mission

Barnsley Civic was built nearly 150 years ago with a mission to empower and educate the working men and women of Barnsley. Over the decades since, our historic walls have held a theatre, a library, an art school and much much more.

Today we are a modern art centre with a significant programme of theatre, dance, music and visual arts. We are a place to experience culture, and also a place to make art for yourself.

Here many people’s stories will be told, and many people will discover a way to tell their own tale.

Throughout all our long years, in many different ways, we have stayed true to one core mission:

To help the people of Barnsley tell their story, and to be the place where the story of Barnsley is told.

Our Values

Our values are shaped by our history, our community and our family of artists and friends.

INCLUSIVE: We are here for everyone and will do all we can to ensure everyone feels welcome, whatever their background.
CONFIDENT: We believe in ourselves, our history and our unique role at the heart of Barnsley’s civic and cultural life.
PRACTICAL: We are focused on making a practical impact on the lives of our audiences, participants, communities and artists.
BRAVE: We wont allow the fear of failure or offence to stop us trying something new or different.
HOPEFUL: We are realistic about the challenges we face but are resolutely hopeful for the future.
HUMAN-CENTRIC: We believe in people not machines, fallible and flawed though they are, magnificent and miraculous as they so often can be.

Our Vision

In the coming years, as we grow our cultural programme and expand our community engagement ever further, we envision a Barnsley Civic at the heart of its town, and at the centre of an ever expanding network of cultural, heritage and community partners.

We will continue to offer local audiences and artists a place to make and experience all forms of art, culture and heritage; as well as sharing the very best of music, dance, theatre and visual arts from across the UK, and beyond, with the people of Barnsley.

Some of what we offer will be free, and the rest will be reasonably priced so that everyone can be part of our shared creative journey.

With 150 years of history behind us, we will work tirelessly to ensure that Barnsley Civic continues to be be a thriving, independent home for entertainment, creativity and community for decades to come.