Town's 'real people' celebrated in new exhibition

A new exhibition is being unveiled in Barnsley which features the portraits of the "real people" who call the town home.

The Faces of Barnsley exhibition is due to open at Experience Barnsley on Wednesday and will feature photos of everyday locals making a difference in their community - such as community leaders and volunteers.

The images were taken by Hull-based photographer Jody Moore, who was commissioned by the council to take on the project.

Cabinet spokesperson councillor Wendy Cain said: "Each portrait celebrates individuality while contributing to a collective story, one that reflects Barnsley's strength, pride and sense of belonging."

She said the faces on show at the Town Hall showcased "a town which is diverse, welcoming, inclusive, and full of character."

"Faces of Barnsley is a celebration of our Barnsley people: their individuality, their contributions and their pride in our borough," Cain added.

The exhibition is part of the council's Together at the Town Hall event, running all week, as part of its wider Love Where You Live initiative, which aims to champion the borough and its residents.

Moore, who had previously been commissioned by the council to work on other local photography projects, said Barnsley had "such a lovely community".

"A big thing that stood out for me on the project was you could go to meet people - a poetry group in Penistone, the Sea Cadets, or a group in Thurgoland - and you'd get their stories and who they think you should get a picture of.

"That may be their butcher or greengrocer, or even their local dentist who's a bit of a legend - it's enabled me to meet a lot more of that community," he added.

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