The People, Culture & Inclusion Committee of the Barbican Centre Board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 15 September 2026. The agenda includes a discussion on the recruitment of a new External Member for the Barbican Centre Board, as well as updates on the Barbican Operating Model and staffing.

Delegated Authority for External Board Member Recruitment

A key item scheduled for discussion is a request for delegated authority regarding the recruitment of a new External Member for the Barbican Centre Board. The report, authored by Abigail Carlin, Chief of Staff at the Barbican Centre, and submitted by Chief Executive Officer Abigail Pogson, outlines a shift in the interview timeline. This means that interviews for the preferred candidate will not be completed in time for the 15 September meeting.

The report recommends that the committee delegate authority to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chair, Deputy Chair, and the Sub-Committee, to approve the preferred candidate after the interviews conclude. This approach would allow for the candidate to be formally approved by the Barbican Centre Board on 6 October 2026. The alternative option would be to maintain the original timeline, delaying approval until the PCI Committee meeting on 9 November 2026, and then at the Barbican Centre Board on 27 January 2027. The report highlights that filling this vacancy promptly is important for providing arts administration knowledge and expertise to support the Barbican's future plans.

Barbican Operating Model and Staffing Update

The committee is also scheduled to receive updates on the Barbican Operating Model and staffing. These reports are from the Chief Operating Officer of the Barbican Centre and are marked for decision.

The meeting will also cover the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting held on 8 June 2026. Following this, there will be a motion to exclude the public from the meeting for the discussion of non-public and confidential agenda items, including non-public and confidential minutes, and further discussions on the Barbican Operating Model and staffing.

The People, Culture & Inclusion Committee is chaired by Tobi Ruth Adebekun, with Alderman Sir William Russell serving as Deputy Chair. Other members attending include Munsur Ali, Zulum Elumogo, Deputy Jaspreet Hodgson, Professor Jane Roscoe, and Irem Yerdelen. Amelia Christopher is listed as the contact for enquiries. Members of the public can observe the public parts of the meeting virtually via a provided YouTube link.