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- Our freedom -garden gathering
Last year, we were delighted to be part of Our Freedom: Then and Now a UK-wide, locally-led arts and creative programme on what ‘Our Freedom’ means to local people and their communities, following the 80th anniversary of VE/VJ Day. Supported by the UK Government through Arts Council England, Future Arts Centres, and Libraries Connected initiative saw arts centres and libraries across Britain present community-led projects exploring the legacy of VE Day and VJ Day.
Barnsley Civic’s project focused on the theme of ‘Freedom from Want’, a concept first coined by Franklin D. Roosevelt, which emphasised the importance of ensuring that everyone has access to basic needs such as food, shelter and education.
Building on Barnsley’s long tradition of mutual aid and collective action, the project explored how our communities have come together to support one another during times of hardship, from wartime Britain to the present day. Barnsley Civic’s own building provided an important historical starting point for this exploration. Originally built in 1877 by Henry Harvey as the Barnsley Mechanics’ Institute and Public Hall, the building has long been a space dedicated to learning, culture, and collective action.
Inspired by this legacy, we developed a community-centred project that explored food, community and solidarity both historically and today. The project connected stories of wartime rationing, growing-your-own initiatives, and food waste reduction with contemporary responses to food insecurity, including the work of food banks and community pantries. Through this lens, participants were encouraged to consider what ‘Freedom from Want’ means in their own lives and our local communities.
The project brought together a wide range of local partners and community groups, including Creative Recovery, Barnsley Food Bank, FareShare, and Barnsley Good Food Pantries. By bringing together organisations working across arts, heritage, food support and community engagement, the project created opportunities for people from different backgrounds and generations to share experiences and ideas.
“It made me feel so welcome and made me feel part of the not just the Barnsley community, but the creative arts side as well” (project participant)
At the heart of the programme was a creative prompt: “What can you bring to the table?” This question invited participants to reflect not only on food but also on the skills, stories, values, and acts of care that individuals contribute to their communities. Through a series of workshops, drop-in creative sessions, and collaborative activities, participants responded to this question using a range of artistic approaches.
Artist and printmaker CJ Reay of Black Lodge Press worked alongside artists from Creative Recovery in a series of collage and creativity workshops which eventually led to a series of textile banners inspired by conversations and ideas emerging from the sessions. Participants also created their own artworks, including upcycled napkins which were screen-printed with slogans and responses, as well as poetry and art. Barnsley and District Art Society created visual responses to the poem Freedom Road by Simon Armitage, whilst young people from Barnsley Youth Council developed an original poem reflecting on their perspectives in response.
“Really enjoyed taking part. Great to see community taking shape” (project participant)
The project culminated in a celebratory street-party style garden gathering which brought together project participants, partners and local residents. This togetherness alongside music, dancing, street performance, and creative activities, was an important moment for community building
During the event, the newly commissioned textile banners created by CJ Reay and community participants were unveiled for the first time. The celebration also launched a pop-up exhibition showcasing artworks produced throughout the project in response to Freedom Road. The exhibition remained on display throughout September at Barnsley Civic, featuring contributions from Creative Recovery, Barnsley Youth Council, Barnsley and District Art Society and individual community participants.
Through creative collaboration, storytelling and shared celebration, the project highlighted Barnsley’s enduring tradition of mutual aid while encouraging new conversations about community care, food justice and what “Freedom from Want” means today.
Legacy
The project created a strong foundation for future community collaboration at Barnsley Civic. The Garden Gathering, first developed as part of this programme, will now continue as an annual event celebrating community togetherness, creativity, and shared cultural experiences. The relationships built with local partners and community groups throughout the project will help shape future activity and strengthen local networks of mutual support. As a direct outcome of the project, Barnsley Civic has also become a collection point for donations to Barnsley Food Bank. We look forward to continuing to work with local communities and partners to develop new projects that build on the spirit of collaboration and collective action explored through this programme.
