Subscribe to updates

You'll receive weekly summaries about City of London Council every week.

If you have any requests or comments please let us know at community@opencouncil.network. We can also provide custom updates on particular topics across councils.

Barbican Centre Board - Thursday, 17th July, 2025 10.30 am

July 17, 2025 View on council website
AI Generated

Summary

The Barbican Centre Board were scheduled to meet to discuss board appointments, receive updates on the Barbican Renewal project, and hear the public CEO report. Much of the rest of the agenda was scheduled to be held in private, including discussions of the non-public CEO report, the Barbican commercial deep dive, and visual arts at the Barbican Centre.

Barbican Renewal Project

The Barbican Renewal Updates May – July 2025 report, prepared by Philippa Simpson, Director for Buildings & Renewal, provided an update on the Barbican Renewal project. The report noted that RIBA Stage 3 design was completed in June, and that a planning application was submitted on 11 July.

The report stated that a draft programme of works had been developed by Gardiner & Theobold, the appointed Project Management Consultants. The programme is to be reviewed and revised with all Barbican teams over the next few months, to produce a final fixed programme and procurement strategy by the end of the year.

Cost plans had been generated for all projects in the programme based on Stage 3 design information by Cost Consultants Aecom. According to the report, all were on or around budget, with the exception of the foyers, which was significantly over the estimated envelope. A third party, Pulse Consult, was engaged to undertake a clean slate exercise, reviewing and costing the drawings. This new cost plan showed a disparity of £12m with the original, and sat within the allocated budget figure.

The report also noted the appointment of two new colleagues: Ying Seow, Head of Sustainability, and Aksel Nichols, Project Manager, infrastructure. A new design team had been appointed to work on a new wayfinding scheme: Assemble Architects and Designers Unit. An Access and Inclusive Design Advisory Panel had also been established.

The board were asked to approve the continued quarterly submission of written updates alongside CORA-generated dashboards, with onward submission to Policy and Resources Committee and Court of Common Council governance structure.

Public CEO Report

The Public CEO Report, prepared by David Farnsworth, Interim CEO, summarised activity across the Barbican's Strategic Framework and Shared Goals from April to June 2025.

In the area of audience experience, the report noted that the Barbican's retail team is exceeding targets and income to date is ahead of last year. The report highlighted the positive reaction to the Noah Davis offer in the Gallery Shop, and the success of the Cate Blanchett t-shirts in the Foyer Shop. The report also mentioned the Rough Trade concession moving to the ground floor, where it is now joined by a co-branded Rough Trade x Barbican photobooth.

The Barbican's summer campaign Frequencies: the sounds that shape us was an opportunity to drive young people to the Centre across a range of programming including Feel the Sound, Rebel Radio and In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats.

The report also provided updates on theatre, Barbican Immersive, cinema, creative collaboration, visual arts, and music.

Following approval at May's Board meeting, the new People, Culture and Inclusion (PCI) strategy is now in place. The PCI Strategy was co-designed and is built around three strategic pillars and supported by three strategic enablers, designed to drive meaningful and measurable transformation: Develop a Connected, High-Performing Culture; Attract and Retain the Best Talent; and Create Inclusive Experiences for All.

Design development for Barbican Renewal continues to progress well, with RIBA Stage 3 design completed on the major projects being delivered during this phase of the programme (Conservatory, Foyers, Lakeside, Catering Block, infrastructure). A planning application is now being developed for submission in July 2025, which will mark a major milestone for the programme.

A soft market testing exercise recently launched to explore potential future uses for the currently vacant Exhibition Halls.

Board Appointments

The Board Appointments report concerned the reappointment of Micheal Asante as an External Member of the Barbican Centre Board. Mr Asante's original three-year term was due to end in July 2025, and the report asked members to consider whether or not they would like to reappoint him for a second three-year term, ending in July 2028.

Under its terms of reference, the Barbican Centre Board may appoint up to eight External Members, for up to three three-year terms.

Other Matters

The board were also scheduled to approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 8 May 2025.

Attendees

Profile image for Sir William Anthony Bowater Russell
Sir William Anthony Bowater Russell  Alderman •  Bread Street
Tobi Ruth Adebekun
Profile image for Munsur Ali
Munsur Ali  Portsoken
Michael Asante
Stephen Bediako
Zulum Elumogo
Robert Glick OBE
Mark Page
Profile image for Anett Rideg
Anett Rideg  Aldersgate
Dr Jens Riegelsberger
Professor Jane Roscoe
Despina Tsatsas
Profile image for Irem Yerdelen
Irem Yerdelen  Lime Street
Claire Spencer

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

× Meeting image