Community artworks celebrate village's heritage

Two murals created with the help of a group of primary school pupils have been revealed as part of a project to celebrate a village's heritage.

The pair of colourful paintings in Horse and Groom Square in Goldthorpe, Barnsley, were painted by art duo STATIC, with the help of the local community.

STATIC artists Craig Evans and Tom Jackson created stencil illustrations with children at Highgate Primary Academy, and those were incorporated into the murals.

Councillor Robin Franklin said: "Everyone who has played their part in shaping and painting the murals, which are colourful, vibrant and joyful, can be rightly proud of a job well done."

Franklin said the project, funded by the government's Towns Fund, showed members of the Dearne community could achieve "great things" together.

"Barnsley really is the place of possibilities," she added.

The STATIC art duo held an open painting day in April so people could contribute to a piece called The Stories on the side of the library in the square.

A spray paint art workshop at Goldthorpe Pentecostal Community Church and a drop-in session at the Snap-Tin Cafe were also held to gather people's views.

Matthew Stephens, chair of Goldthorpe Town Board, said: "STATIC have done a great job bringing the fantastic vision for the murals to life with help from everyone who came along to the community painting day.

"It really adds extra colour and vibrance to Horse and Groom Square at the heart of Goldthorpe."

Beam, a cultural organisation which works across the north of England, also contributed to the project which was commissioned by Barnsley Council.

A council spokesperson said the pieces were part of a package of major artwork projects under way in the Dearne area, funded by the Goldthorpe Town Deal.

The government's Towns Fund will also pay for a sculpture which is expected to be placed on the A635 roundabout.

The permanent artwork, created by artist Dan Jones, will include three 16ft (5m) tall vertical panels to symbolise the villages of Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe and Bolton-Upon-Dearne.

More than 240 local residents took part in workshops and surveys contributing to the design of the work.

The panels feature layered steel designs with themes of agriculture, industry, and nature, and each one will also include a functional birdhouse, with one including a bug habitat.

Inspiration for the design came from local stories and symbols, from mining heritage and sewing references to musical notes from a Thurnscoe choir and a pineapple-shaped birdhouse reflecting historical symbols of prosperity.

Once installed, the sculpture will be visible to drivers and pedestrians and will be accompanied by interpretation panels nearby, with further information made available online and at Goldthorpe Library.

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