Barnsley Sunflowers

A striking visual display at Barnsley Civic and across Eldon Street
June 14th - 28th

Do You See Me?

ArtWorks is proud to be launching an exciting new campaign at our Barnsley site in celebration of Mencap’s Learning Disability Week 2025. The national theme, "Do You See Me?", encourages society to truly recognise and value individuals who have a learning disability. At ArtWorks, we are embracing this message with our own creative initiative: Barnsley Sunflowers – Let’s Grow!

Through a series of engaging workshops we invite the public to join us in a collaborative act of creativity and visibility. Together, we will create beautiful paper sunflowers for an installation at Barnsley Civic, ensuring that during Learning Disability Week in June, Barnsley is blooming with recognition, inclusion and celebration.

Upcoming workshops:

30th April, 1–3pm | Library @ the Lightbox, Barnsley
24th May, 11am–4pm | Barnsley Garden Party, The Glass Works Square
22nd June, 11am–4pm | Midsummer Festival, Hillsborough Park

What is Learning Disability Week?

Learning Disability Week is an annual initiative led by Mencap, designed to raise awareness, challenge stigma and celebrate the talents and contributions of people who have a learning disability. In 2025, the theme "Do You See Me?" aims to highlight the importance of visibility, representation and understanding. It is a call to the public to acknowledge, respect and empower individuals who have a learning disability, ensuring they are seen, heard and valued within their communities.

At ArtWorks, we believe in the power of creativity to foster inclusion. Our Barnsley Sunflowers campaign is a direct response to this year’s theme, offering a hands-on opportunity for people to engage, collaborate and contribute to a growing visual representation of unity and support.

Barnsley Sunflowers - Let's Grow!

Our campaign is simple, powerful and full of meaning. Sunflowers, known for their resilience, brightness and ability to turn towards the sun, are a fitting symbol for the aspirations and achievements of people who have a learning disability. Through creativity and community engagement, we aim to make Barnsley Civic a beacon of inclusivity and joy during Learning Disability Week.

How Can You Get Involved?

We invite members of the Barnsley community to join our free creative workshops. These sessions, led by our Creative Workshop Leaders, will guide participants through the process of creating paper sunflowers, which will be displayed in the Barnsley Civic and across Eldon Street in June, creating a striking visual installation for Learning Disability Week.

Our goal is to fill Barnsley Civic with sunflowers, symbolising growth, visibility, and community spirit.

Why sunflowers? The symbolism behind our campaign.

The sunflower is a universal symbol of strength, hope and inclusivity. For many people with disabilities, it represents hidden disabilities awareness, notably through the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme. This initiative allows individuals with non-visible disabilities to discreetly signal that they may need extra support or understanding in public spaces.

By choosing the sunflower as the emblem of our campaign, we are:

Celebrating the individuality and achievements of people who have a learning disability.
Encouraging awareness and understanding within the wider community.
Creating a lasting, visual statement that reminds Barnsley to see and appreciate every individual for their contributions and talents.

Sunflowers grow towards the light, just as individuals who have a learning disability thrive when given the right support, recognition and opportunities. Through our project, we aim to inspire change, one bloom at a time.

The impact of Barnsley Sunflowers.

By participating in this initiative, you are helping to:

Create a community-wide display that will capture public attention during Learning Disability Week.
Showcase the creative talents of individuals who have a learning disability.
Encourage conversations around inclusion, visibility and representation in Barnsley.
Promote the importance of community engagement in supporting and uplifting individuals who have a learning disability.

Each crafted sunflower and each planted seed will contribute to a powerful message of recognition, visibility and togetherness.