College Celebrates its Cultural Diversity

This year’s Week of Culture was our most ambitious and action-packed yet, with a vibrant market, diverse performances and a treasure hunt highlighting local landmarks.

The annual event is designed to unite staff and students in celebrating the College’s incredible diversity, with learners from over 100 different countries making up 12% of the student population.

The Old Mill Lane campus was transformed for the week with bunting made up of flags from across the globe, alongside large national flags representing the countries with the highest student populations, sparking curiosity and conversations among students and staff.

Monday featured the History of Leeds West Indian Carnival talks by Faye Kenny from Boomchikkaboom, alongside high-energy Soca Carnival dance workshops for staff and students. On Tuesday, we hosted our largest-ever Carnival-inspired market, featuring Mahogany Markets stallholders, carnival outfits, music, face painting and a photo booth.

Wednesday’s Love Music Hate Racism show at the Civic Theatre included two 75-minute performances from our talented Music and Performing Arts students. ESOL student, Ruth Mariana performed with her band Time of Love, alongside guest artists Graham Lindley and Sheffield School of Bollywood.

Thursday was Barnsley Day, celebrating the town’s rich history with a Cultural Capital Treasure Hunt, sending hundreds of students on a journey through the town’s landmarks. In Old Mill Lane’s Urban Park, SMJ Falconry presented birds of prey, including a white-faced owl, a peregrine falcon, and a kestrel named Tiffin. Additionally, interactive mining experiences were held in the brand-new Immersive room, harking back to Barnsley’s mining past.

To conclude the week, 40 international food boxes were distributed to various curriculum and support departments, allowing everyone to experience global flavours through tasting sessions over lunch. It was amazing to see so many departments’ photos of everyone taking the time to try and enjoy the food!

Lucy Evans, Culture Capital and Personal Development Co-ordinator, who organised the event, spoke about the success of the week: “After four months of planning, it was fantastic to see all the hard work come together. I am incredibly grateful to our community partners City of Sanctuary, Refugee Council, Barnsley Music Services and The Civic for their support on this event.

“Seeing the College come alive with cultural pride and unity was a testament to our shared commitment to inclusivity and community spirit.”