Experience a glimpse into future of Barnsley culture this summer with a festival by young people for young people (and the young at heart), running from Friday 1 August to Sunday 10 August.
Young Civilians, a new group of emerging young producers formed by Barnsley Civic earlier this year, have developed ‘Art Abart Tarn’ festival, following a town-wide survey of over 700 young people. The survey explored what arts and culture meant to them, and their experience of Barnsley’s current arts and culture offer.
Key findings from the survey included:
- A clear need for a dedicated music venue and rehearsal space, accessible to young artists – not tied to pubs or nightclubs.
- A lack of safe and inclusive creative spaces for young people.
- A demand for more platforms to showcase local talent.
- More practical opportunities are needed for all people as there is limited access to arts education, especially in schools where drama and music are no longer part of the curriculum for Years 10 and 11.
With these insights at the core, ‘Art Abart Tarn’ blends headline events with hands-on experiences. The festival opens and closes with showcases of local talent, including performances by Alien Abduction Club, The Kostanzas, and Barnsley’s own West End theatre star Emily-Mae Walker. The line-up also includes Zest Theatre’s latest production Sound Board, a dry (alcohol free) comedy night, the Barnsley Zine Fair, and an event focused on sustainable fashion.
Alien Abduction Club perform on stage.
Alongside the main events, the Young Civilians have placed a strong focus on creative workshops and opportunities for those that are new to the arts, and for those already exploring creative paths. These include sessions in illustration, painting, film-making, and a special collaboration with Sheffield’s National Videogame Museum.
“This project will benefit Barnsley arts and culture offer by not only being more diverse but showcasing many more opportunities for people to come together as a community,” said one Young Civilians member.
Another Young Civilians member said,
“A project like this will help bring the younger generation and introduce them to what their local area can offer and what support is available to them. It may help them realise that they can achieve great things when given the right help and a chance. Projects like this may also shed light onto what is available for the community of Barnsley.”
Jason White, Community Engagement Manager at Barnsley Civic, added:
“Young Civilians has been a great way for young people to find out about how arts festivals are brought to life. As arts festivals go, this is a genuine collaborative project with local young people, as we’ve been able to use the feedback from over 700 young people to not only inform the kind of events that have been programmed, but to also consider the kinds of barriers that might stop someone attending an event.”
‘Art Abart Tarn’ is a celebration of young voices, creativity and possibility. It reflects the ideas and ambitions of a new generation and offers a welcoming space for people of all ages to get involved, be inspired, and explore what culture in Barnsley can be.
Thank you to the following organsations for their support; National Lottery Community Fund, One Over The 8, Last laugh Comedy Club, Do Or Die, National Videogame Museum, Hive South Yorkshire and Barnsley Youth Council.
Art Abart Tarn will run from Friday 1st August to Sunday 10th August.
You can find out What’s On here
Find out more about the Young Civilians project here.
