‘We have a proud heritage of arts and culture’
What is culture? Now that may sound like a philosophy exam question but it depends on who you ask. In my view it can entertain, inform and at times infuriate, whether it’s public art, a stirring tune or just a poem.
It doesn’t have to be highbrow; in recent weeks I’ve witnessed the whole gamut of culture in Barnsley from a brilliant Pride weekend, with drag artists and cool tunes, the South African choir Tuks Camerata producing a spine-tingling spontaneous performance in our council chamber, Grimethorpe Colliery Band playing at ‘Brassed On’ in the town centre and the opening of a new poetry phone box!
Even last weekend I enjoyed a performance by the Barnsley U3A Old Blowers Brass Band at Darfield Museum and took part in the 2nd Annual Yorkshire Pudding Throwing Competition, organised by the ‘Bard of Barnsley’ Ian McMillan. Silly but fun.
Let’s be clear here, culture matters to all of us. According to Arts Council England when blended with the arts it can help fight social injustice.
They state that theatres, museums, galleries, and libraries are the beating heart of our towns and cities.
Not only do they bring prosperity, but they also bring communities together and make life worth living. I don’t disagree with that.
What I do disagree with is they don’t put their money where their mouth is. National Lottery Project Grants, administered by Arts Council England, support thousands of individual artists, community, and cultural organisation across the country.
Data shows a wide gulf between spending in London and the South East compare to Yorkshire. From 2019 to date, arts and culture projects within Barnsley received grants totalling £325,667. That’s great but guess what? Westminster got just over £31 million.
Now I get the argument that major national cultural sites are clustered in London but when you drill down the data it isn’t large theatres or museums that got all the money.
It seems that Barnsley got the short straw again. It has been noticed though; as part of their ‘Levelling Up for Culture Places and Priority Places’ Arts Council England has identified 54 places across England in which their investment and engagement is too low; I’m pleased to see that Barnsley is one of them.
That’s to be applauded but levelling up needs to be more than warm words and we deserve fair funding across all sectors, not just within the arts.
From world beating brass bands to poetry, from sculpture to drag, we have a proud heritage of arts and culture across Barnsley but its time it got the support and funding it deserves..