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 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.
