Barnsley will be making a contribution to the 100 days of world-class music, dance, theatre, film, art, sculpture that comprise the Yorkshire Festival, which takes place from 27 March.
The cultural festival has been organised to welcome the Grand Départ of the Tour de France – the world’s largest annual sporting event and one of the most spectacular – and will celebrate the very best of Yorkshire creativity. Some 47 projects were commissioned to be officially part of the festival – which will also include hundreds of fringe events.
The Civic, Hanson Street, plans to celebrate with a fantastic new exhibition called Bike Show, 16 May to 12 July. With an emphasis on the influence of cycling culture on contemporary design, this visual arts exhibition will explore technological advancements and the best in bicycle innovation, presenting particularly unusual and pioneering examples of this green two-wheeled transport. Bicycles made of sustainable materials, recycled bicycles and bicycles that answer many of the practical issues of contemporary bike ownership, such as how to avoid bike theft, will all be on display.
The exhibition will examine the spectacle of the Tour De France – its history, its language and some Yorkshire riders who have ridden it. Some fascinating statistics will also be revealed – from how many calories are burned up on an average stage, to the amount of tyres used during the whole race. Bike Show will also investigate the apparent resurgence in the craft of hand-building bicycles, and take a look into the world of the artisan maker through an in-depth study of Sheffield-based Field Cycles.
Worsbrough Mill will be one of the locations for a community project called The Hunt. Organised by outdoor puppet theatre company Frolicked, it’s an opportunity to take part in a puppet-filled, puzzle-fuelled treasure hunt that leads intrepid families through five historic locations across Yorkshire.
The Hunt is a live treasure hunt event that will take place across five venues on five dates in the run up to the Grand Depart of the Tour de France Participants of the hunt will have the opportunity to win a special, valuable and completely unique, Tour de France-inspired prize. The Hunt will firstly take the form of four mini treasure hunts on four different days, each attached to a specific location of historical interest. It will take place at Worsbrough Mill on Monday, 26 May, 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm.
Meanwhile there will be an exciting fringe programme of activities taking place in Barnsley Town Centre for the whole family to enjoy.
From Thursday, 27 March, Barnsley Town Hall will be turning yellow when it is illuminated, along with the fountains in Pals Centenary Square which will also have a yellow hue.
The Art Station (Saturday, 12 to Thursday, 17 April) is a pop up studio space in the town centre in which the public will be invited to join a team of professional artists in the creation of a series of willow and natural sculptures to be displayed in the town centre.
Barnsley goes French (Monday, 26 to Wednesday, 28 May) will see the town centre alive with French theme performances and shows to celebrate the Tour de France historic Grand Départ in Yorkshire.
Cart Before Horse (Tuesday,1 July) is a short 10 minute outdoor performance in Barnsley town centre with performance throughout the day by Hebden Bridge-based Stumble danceCircus. A trick-cycle and a bespoke cart structure will muddle through the streets, getting almost exactly nowhere.
For more information please check the events section of www.visit-barnsley.com/tdf
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