Barbican appoints Head of Creative Collaboration & Learning

KARENA JOHNSON is joining the Barbican in September as Head of Creative Collaboration & Learning, a new position at the organisation. 

Currently Artistic Director and CEO of Hoxton Hall, Johnson’s new role will see her oversee the Barbican’s learning programme and public programme, community projects and events, as well as Barbican Futures.

The Barbican says she will also play a “major role” in its renewal project, which will see the centre adapt to the “creative opportunities and urgent challenges of today’s world”.

Johnson has more than 20 years experience as a theatre director, curator, conceptualiser and producer. Prior to working with Hoxton Hall, her roles included Artistic Director of The Broadway, Barking, Acting Artistic Director of Contact Theatre, Manchester, Artistic Director of Kushite Theatre Company and Theatre Programmer at Oval House theatre.

She says she is thrilled to be joining the Barbican, adding her career is “driven by a desire to make the arts more inclusive at every level”.

“I pride myself on noticing who is not in the room and developing approaches and art to enable those missing to engage.”

“My passion for the transformative nature of arts experiences makes me look forward to being part of this world leading arts centre as it engages with these important questions at an exciting moment of change.”