Barbican receives £25m for upgrade works

The City of London Corporation has agreed to provide £25m in funding to begin the first phase of the Barbican Renewal Programme, in a bid to "reinvigorate" the arts venue.

Members of the City Corporation’s Policy and Resources Committee approved the funding in order to develop elements of a long-term masterplan for the building, undertake further consultation, and to boost the arts centre’s operational and environmental performance over the next two years.

The City Corporation, which is the Barbican Centre’s founder and principal funder, said the Renewal Programme will transform underused spaces within the centre for new creative use.

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It will also invest in its existing venues and public spaces. The overarching vision for the work is to care for and invest in the Barbican Centre building, celebrating its radical vision, and design heritage, while responding to the creative opportunities and challenges of the future.

Major improvements will be made to the building’s environmental performance under the City Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy, which commits it to achieving net zero carbon status in its own operations by 2027.

The investment coincides with the City Corporation's launch of its Destination City programme to build a seven-day-a-week leisure destination for UK and international visitors, workers, and residents.

“A world-renowned arts and learning organisation, the Barbican Centre showcases the most exciting performers and artists from around the world," City Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said.

“It is a cultural cornerstone of our Destination City programme, enhancing our already unrivalled arts and culture offer, and elevating our attractiveness as a global visitor destination.”

Claire Spencer, Chief Executive Officer at the Barbican Centre, said renewal of the building is fundamental to continuing the centre's role of sparking creative possibilities for artists, audiences, and communities.

“We now have a great opportunity to conserve the extraordinary architectural heritage of the Barbican, while reconsidering what an arts centre can and should be in the 21st Century, and making sure we are open and welcoming to all," she said.

"I am looking forward to continuing to work with our accomplished design team, current and future users of our building, and the community to address the challenges and seize the opportunities of the future.”

The Barbican Centre will be seeking a range of additional funding sources for subsequent phases of the programme.

Confirmation of funding for the first phase of works comes two-and-a-half years after plans to build 2,000-seat Centre For Music, run by the Barbican Centre on the site of the Museum of London, were ditched, with the £288m cost being deemed prohibitively expensive.