Family Fun at the Barbican

Find out about our children's events in the 1990s

Barbican Cinema Club Children's Badge by Photography by Max ColsonBarbican Centre

Activities for families

The Barbican has always had lots of events and activities planned for families. This is a badge from the 1990s for the Barbican Cinema Club.

Barbican Cinema Club Children's Badge by Photography by Max ColsonBarbican Centre

Barbican Mascots

At the time, the Barbican created different family mascots for different activities.

Barney the Barn Owl's Children Selection Tape by Photography by Max ColsonBarbican Centre

Barney the Barbican Barn Owl

One such mascot was Barney, the Barbican Barn Owl. He featured on mugs, hats and tapes such as this one.

Barney the Barn Owl's Children Selection Tape by Photography by Max ColsonBarbican Centre

Barney and friends

This cassette, for ages 2-9, included fifteen classic children's songs such as Puff the Magic Dragon.

Summer in the City Leaflet 1987 Summer in the City: A Summer Festival for all the Family: 2nd to 9th August 1987 (1987) by Barbican Centre.Barbican Centre

Barney's origins

Barney the Barbican Barn Owl was created for a 1993 family festival called Summer in the City. This leaflet is for the 1987 edition of the festival.

Summer in the City Leaflet 1987 Summer in the City: A Summer Festival for all the Family: 2nd to 9th August 1987 (1987) by Barbican Centre.Barbican Centre

Festival programme

The line up included performances by 'Mister Clown'

Festival programme

a teddy bears' picnic performance including Paddington Bear's First Concert

Festival programme

screenings of Back to the Future and Ghostbusters

Festival programme

a 'clown-ish' interpretation of Waiting for Godot

Festival programme

and a tour of The Image of London in the Art Gallery for under 12s.

Barbican Centre Activity Guide Barbican Centre Activity Guide by Barbican CentreBarbican Centre

Barbican Beaver Club

Another mascot on the scene in the '90s was the Barbican Beaver. This is an Activity Guide for children visiting the Barbican.

Barbican Centre Activity Guide Barbican Centre Activity Guide by Barbican CentreBarbican Centre

The Barbican Beaver guided readers around the activity booklet, demonstrating the different artforms at the Centre.

Barbican Centre Activity Guide Barbican Centre Activity Guide by Barbican CentreBarbican Centre

Including playing for the London Symphony Orchestra

Barbican Centre Activity Guide Barbican Centre Activity Guide by Barbican CentreBarbican Centre

and performing in a Royal Shakespeare Company play.

Barbican Centre Activity Guide Barbican Centre Activity Guide by Barbican CentreBarbican Centre

He was also the subject of 'Join the dots'.

Barbican Beaver Club Leaflet Barbican Beaver Club Leaflet by Barbican CentreBarbican Centre

Join the club

Children under 12 could join the Barbican Beaver Club to get a free Barbican badge.

Sitting by the Barbican Lake by James DeavinBarbican Centre

Families at the Barbican

Today, family activities at the Barbican are wide-ranging - including the long-running Family Film Club. Though there aren't currently any mascots like Barney.

Budding Brutalists

Families can also access online activities to do in the comfort of their own homes, such as this activity video inspired by our Jean Dubuffet exhibition.

And this video with activities responding to the art of Noguchi.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Related theme
Lose Yourself in the Barbican
An adventure through London’s icon of Brutalist architecture
View theme
Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites