Parakeets fly in as museum shows off its new plumage

Barnsley Council forged a partnership with the London borough of Newham during last year’s Olympics and the parakeet theme for Cannon Hall is designed to reflect that.

Managers of Cannon Hall Museum said the exhibition had been lent a Bow porcelain parakeet from Newham Council’s collection for the show, which is described as “eye-catching”.

Artist Richard Johnson has also painted green parakeets around the hall and elsewhere on the estate after winning an Arts Council grant for the project.

A spokesman for the museum said: “London has its colonies of green parakeets living wild in its parks and now Cannon Hall does too, thanks to Richard Johnson.

“Painted in a style called trompe-l’oeil – French for deceive the eye – the green parakeets look just like the real thing.

“Inspired by Barnsley’s successful partnership with Newham leading up to and during London 2012, Barnsley’s parakeet colony promises to be just as eye-catching as any of the colonies in London.”

A series of workshops is also planned during the exhibition which runs until April 21. For information call 01226 773512.