An artist collective emerging from Tarn’s quiet shadows

At UPNORF, we’re always looking for the sparks that flare outside the so-called centres of culture — the studios, collectives, and kitchen tables where artists are reshaping what the North looks like on its own terms.

BOROUGH, the Barnsley-based collective founded by Spencer Hughes, Robert Cox and Jake Barradell-Smith, is one of those sparks. What began as a personal project has become a platform for publishing, collaboration and community, with a distinctly DIY ethos rooted in Tarn’s resourcefulness. And while BOROUGH is proudly Barnsley, their story is also part of a bigger current moving across the North: proof that creativity thrives in the very places people don’t always expect to find it.

Can you tell us a bit about BOROUGH and how it got started?

Of course. BOROUGH is made up of three Barnsley artists: Spencer Hughes, Robert Cox and Jake Barradell-Smith. Initially BOROUGH was a personal project which has since grown into a wider community focus. We’ve recently embraced publishing in the studio with help from another Barnsley creative, Sam Batley. We don’t have a set mission as per se, we try to keep an open mindset, work with the process and see where it leads us, all the while having fun wi it.

What challenges do you face as creatives in Barnsley? 

Barnsley is a small place, it’s quiet pretty much everywhere after 6 o’clock, things seem to happen in the shadows. It’s an area which has been shoved aside for a while: no funding, a lack of art shops, few places of inspiration or places to share work. These issues are really ones of importance in Tarn. 

But there's some positives to being a Barnsley creative, right?

It’s a very family friendly environment, that is the arts here. Barnsley offers a great in to the arts, there’s some great opportunities, but there’s plenty of unique challenges. This makes us very purposeful people in the way that we apply our creativity. A lack of art shops really helps with learning that very quickly, it’s definitely a combined struggle. It makes it easy to relate to other creatives in Tarn as we’re all sort of in the same position, or have been through that process, which creates this strong circle.

It’s very DIY, you do have to be resourceful in the way you make work and be willing to try new things.

Borough is an artist-lead collective, tell us about the impact this has had on artists in the area and why it was needed:

We’re not really too sure of the impact it's had on other artists to be honest, but hopefully it’s been a positive one. It’s enabled us to facilitate opportunities for people - to connect, to improve and open this circle even more. It felt like it was just us at the start, but I think it’s helped in building connections with other Barnsley artists like Sean O’Connell, Sam Batley, Harley Roberts, Ailish Treanor and Eloise Clarkson to name a few. We sort of have a base now, a place that isn’t an establishment steered by large pots of money where people can come together and feel like things are possible. 

Tell us about the ‘A Barnsley Story’ book that was recently released. It looks so, so good:

Thank you, people have loved the book.

It seems it’s made a great impact. So, the book was commissioned by Barnsley Council as part of the ‘Storying Barnsley’ project in which Sam Batley produced a film titled ‘The Town I Love So Well’. The book is an accumulation of work which came from an open call, for Barnsley locals to document their story with the Tarn and create a piece of work which reflects their lived relationship. Sam Batley asked Spencer Hughes to design and create the book which was a beautiful process. We also asked Eloise (Clarkson) to help us with the thread binding which felt important to the integrity of the book, having as many Barnsley creatives involved as possible. It was an amazing project to be involved in, and it serves as a piece of Barnsley history which we’re all really proud of.

You recently created a survey to investigate whether an artist-led space in Barnsley is viable. We're super interested in knowing what people thought about that:

It’s an ongoing project which we’re really invested in, we’re working hard to make the dream of an artist-led space in Barnsley a reality. All we can really say is something is happening sooner rather than later. 

Where do you see BOROUGH heading in the next few years?

Rotherham.

No not really, we’re very much Barnsley well and truly. Publishing, exhibitions, collaborations with artists locally and internationally, an independent art space, long term bodies of work and a couple of open calls thrown into the mix for good luck. 

What’s the best way for artists or supporters to get involved or stay connected with your work?

We’ve been working hard this year, with our eyes set on Bound Art Book Fair in Manchester this October, so follow the instagram to see the new work we’ll be releasing. We play a part in organising a bi-monthly photo social too (@barnsleyphotocollective) where we meet with other creatives in Tarn. BOROUGH is also working with Photoworks to bring a photo festival to Barnsley, which is looking very exciting so keep an eye out for that too.

Cheers, BOROUGH!

Make sure to follow BOROUGH and check out their work.

See the UPNORF post here, and follow us on instagram for more updates.