William Barnes Society launch fundraising campaign

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An opportunity for us all to help preserve the William Barnes Archive for the future.

William Barnes, the Dorset dialect poet, left an extensive collection of his work to the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery at his death in 1886. The William Barnes Society is now launching an ambitious fundraising campaign to ensure that the Dorset poet’s legacy is accessible to all.

When he died William Barnes bequeathed his writings, poems, letters, sermons, woodcuts and engravings to the County Museum that he co-founded in the mid-nineteenth century. This collection is now housed at the Dorset History Centre where there is a need for a professional archivist to catalogue the materials. The William Barnes Society wants to ensure that anyone anywhere in the world will be able to access, study and appreciate the extraordinary talents of the Dorset poet. Funds raised will be dedicated to this vital archival work. A number of fundraising events will be organised over the coming year including a revival of The Year Clock, a play about the life and times of Barnes written by Society Vice President, Tim Laycock.

Claire Dixon, Executive Director of the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery said that the Museum is delighted to support this important campaign that will improve public access to the William Barnes archive and collection. “William Barnes is an important part of our story as well as the wider history of the county. The opportunity to catalogue this collection will mean more people can connect with his story and discover the important artefacts and materials associated with Barnes’ work and life. We are excited to be working with the Dorset History Centre and the William Barnes Society to deliver this important project.”

Tim Laycock, looking through the many scrapbooks kept by William Barnes.

The President of the William Barnes Society, Sir Andrew Motion, former UK Poet Laureate and currently Homewood Professor of Arts at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA, fully endorse the campaign. Sir Andrew noted that his own published selection of poems by William Barnes (Penguin, 1984) would not have been possible without access to important archival information from the Barnes collection.

Brian Caddy, who has served as Chair of the William Barnes Society for the past decade said that the fundraising campaign represented an important moment in the Society’s history. “By joining together with other organisations to raise money for the Barnes Archive, the Society will ensure a lasting legacy of our much-loved Dorset poet for all to enjoy and appreciate.”

The Dorset History Centre and its charitable arms the Dorset Archives Trust are pleased to be partnering with the William Barnes Society in this critical endeavour, allowing donors to Gift Aid their contribution.

Sam Johnston, County Archivist, said, “We know that cataloguing is the key to opening up collections and making them accessible. We’re delighted to work on this campaign with the Dorset Archives Trust, the William Barnes Society and the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery making another vital piece of Dorset’s cultural heritage available to the wider world.”

The William Barnes Society is appealing to all interested in this unique project to preserve the Dorset poet’s legacy to give generously.

The campaign aims to raise £35,000. Details about ways of donating can be found on the Society’s website williambarnessociety.org.uk/appeal