Date
Summer + Autumn 2026
Image Credits
Museum of Youth Culture
Grown up in Barnet is an exciting new collaboration between the Museum of Youth Culture and London Borough of Barnet uncovering and collecting youth culture stories from the community. Friday night dance outs, family Sundays and hanging out after school, we want to hear your memories and see your photos of growing up in Barnet.
The museum will be working with community groups, youth organisations and local residents to collect and tell the history of Barnet through the lens of its young people - expect Show & Tell events, creative youth programmes, elders coffee mornings and a final exhibition celebrating your Barnet. Get out your family albums, dig out your old outfits, and get ready to share your stories.
“Everyone has a story to tell about being young. We’re incredible excited to be uncovering Barnet’s youth culture history as part of the Light + Flight programme. Sitting with the community and sharing memories, we’re looking forward to building a Grown up in Barnet collection that ensures future generations will be able to engage with this story."
About The Museum
Museum of Youth Culture is the world's first museum dedicated to the lives of teenagers and young people, opening a permanent home in Camden in May 2026.
Working to preserve this overlooked and untold history, the Museum champions the impact of youth culture on modern society and works to change pervasive narratives around young people. The museum works with young people to explore their experiences as teenagers today and envision what a future museum should look like.
Acknowledging that we were all young once, the Museum believes everyone has an important story to tell about their youth and invites the public to be part of the museum through the Grown up in Britain campaign. From the bomb-site Bicycle racers in post-war 1940s London, to the Acid House ravers of 1980s Northern England, the Museum of Youth Culture empowers the extraordinary everyday stories of growing up in Britain.
Light + Flight is presented by Art in Barnet. It is supported by a Cultural Impact Award, part of the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture programme. It is made possible with additional support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.