The consultation boards for the new development of the gallery.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has given initial support of £46,600 towards the development of an exciting project which could transform the Cooper Gallery, which is run by Barnsley Council and Barnsley Museums, and Barnsley residents are invited to give their views on transformational plans for the Cooper Gallery.
The Cooper Gallery: Creating Connections project seeks to increase the number of visitors by attracting new audiences to the venue and enabling more people to engage with its heritage and fascinating stories. The gallery celebrates its centenary this year and currently attracts in the region of 60,000 visitors annually. The HLF development grant has been awarded to help the Cooper Gallery progress plans to apply for a further grant to deliver the project.
The project plans to
- extend the gallery spaces to allow more of the collection of historic works of art to be displayed
- make the gallery more interactive and fun for families and provide facilities for schools to engage with the heritage
- alter the building’s layout to restore the original entrance and improve the outdoor public space at the rear
- improve artwork storage facilities and conserve works of art for display
- provide opportunities for more people to get involved through volunteering
The project is a partnership between the Cooper Gallery Trustees (a Registered Charity) and Barnsley Council.
Specialists have been contracted to develop the plans including architects (GHM Partnership) and exhibition designers (PLB Ltd). Extensive consultation is also being undertaken with a wide range of stakeholders to develop an Activity Plan.
Cllr Roy Miller, Cabinet Spokesperson, Development, Environment and Culture, said: “These are very exciting plans and we’d like to involve Barnsley residents as much as possible. I urge people to visit the gallery and take part.”
Public consultation is now taking place in the Cooper Gallery on the plans. The plans will be on display until Wednesday, 5 March.
The Round 2 bid will be submitted in June 2014 with a decision expected in September 2014. Work would begin on site in early 2015.
The project is intended to be a lasting legacy to mark the Centenary. However, the Gallery is also celebrating the Centenary throughout 2014 with a series of events and activities:
- A Cooper 100 brand identity has been developed to be used on marketing material throughout the year
- The logo will feature in one of the Town Hall flower beds this summer
- An exhibition, Cooper 100, will feature 100 paintings from the permanent collection. The extraordinary variety of the collection in style, genre and period will cover the walls of the Fox Wing gallery in a feast for the eyes
- A celebration event on 31 July at the gallery and the launch of the Cooper 100 campaign
Keep up to date with The Cooper Gallery and The Friends of Cooper Gallery on the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cooper-Gallery/331408703599637
https://www.facebook.com/friendsofthe.coopergallery
Alternative Barnsley 
A little disgusted at this lottery grant for a gallery !!! Wen barnsley hospital had to transfer my relative to Halifax ,, to have her twins ,, as the BDGH dint have enof incubators ,,???? Camelot says lottery moneys go to good use ,,, I can’t see any good in this ,,, let’s give £638,000 to the hospice ,,, to the chemo wards ,, to the neo natal ,, to the ms society ,, to the Alzheimer’s society ,, to the emi care homes ,, etc ,,, how would I go about getting a lottery fund for this ,,, think I will phone Roy miller ?? Many thanks
Much of the lottery’s money goes to culture and tourism projects. Some town’s gallery’s and museums would be almost non-existent if it wasnt for the Lottery Heritage Fund.
If you dont like how the lottery distribute their money, then I dont see what one Councillor is going to do about that.
And there actually is a lottery fund for it. It’s called the Health Lottery. I know you can play it in a couple of places in the town centre.
Also, Barnsey Museums as an organisation (which includes Cooper Gallery) works closely with the barnsley branch of Alzheimer’s Society in organising events for its users and carers, including tea dances, knit2gether mornings and through the Experience Barnsley museum, facilities for memory based workshops.