Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Tom Hoffman, Lucy Musgrave, Trevor Phillips and Judith Pleasance.

The Chairman welcomed the new Head of Cinema, Gali Gold, to the Board.  

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes and summary of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 23 January 2019.

The public minutes and summary of the Board meeting held on 23 January 2019 were approved subject to one typo.

To receive the draft public minutes of the Finance Committee of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 5 March 2019.

The draft public minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on 5 March 2019 were received. The Chairman thanked the Deputy Chair for chairing the meeting in his absence.

To receive the draft public minutes of the Risk Committee of the Barbican Centre Board held on 23 January 2019.

The draft public minutes of the Risk Committee meeting held on 23 January 2019 were received.

Report of the Town Clerk

The Board noted the various outstanding actions and the updates provided thereon. The workplan for Board meetings in 2019 was also noted.

Report of the Managing Director.

The Board received a report of the Managing Director providing updates from the Barbican Directors on their respective areas. The following comments were made:

·         The Managing Director advised Members that the annual theme ‘Life Rewired’ had been launched giving energy and coherence to the programme.

·         Following positive C4M announcements in January, the Managing Director quoted an article in the Architects’ Journal calling it an “urban regeneration project”. It was agreed that London needed a cultural infrastructure to thrive and the Barbican was continuing to refine its business model and programme fundraising to progress with this.

·         The Artistic Director highlighted a number of projects including OpenFest: Art 50, a free weekender of events in partnership with Sky Arts. Life Rewired events included the Enterprising Adventures Showcase, a project exploring collaborative approaches in arts and neuroscience, an experiment at pitting an AI composer trained on the works of Bach against the original pieces in a concert called The Eternal Golden Braid and Unclaimed, a Wellcome-funded commission telling the stories of a surreal lost property office. 

·         Tune into Access, a celebratory free day consisting of performances and participation exploring accessibility, technology and the arts, took place on 18 March marking Disabled Access Day.

·         It was noted that proactive work was taking place to celebrate the Barbican Estate’s 50th anniversary and the Barbican Centre would be hosting a key community event on 8 June for residents in collaboration with the Barbican Association celebrating the past, present and future of the estate.

·         The Barbican and Guildhall Creative Learning team won the SEND Achievement (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) at the National Creative Learning Awards for its work with The Garden School in Hackney, a school for learners with autism aged 4 to 16.

·         Members were advised that it had been

Report of the Director of Arts.

(N.B. – to be read in conjunction with the non-public report at Item 11)

The Board received a report of the Artistic Director regarding the Barbican Cinema Annual Report 2018/19 providing an overview of the Barbican Cinema Department’s activity through 2018-19 and setting out how this relates to the wider Barbican and City of London Corporation’s strategy.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

There was one urgent item:

Barbican Board Dinner 2019

The Chairman thanked everyone involved with preparing the enjoyable Barbican Board Dinner on 28 February 2019 and welcomed Members to provide feedback.

MOTION – That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of Exempt Information, as defined in Part 1, of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public Minutes of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 23 January 2019.

The non-public minutes and summary of the Board meeting held on 23 January 2019 were approved.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Finance Committee of the Barbican Centre Board held on 5 March 2019.

The draft non-public minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on 5 March 2019 were received.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Risk Committee of the Barbican Centre Board held on  23 January 2019.

The draft non-public minutes of the Risk Committee meeting held on 23 January 2019 were received.

To be read in conjunction with Item 6.

The Board received the non-public appendices to be read in conjunction with Item 6.

Report of the Managing Director.

The Board received a report of the Managing Director providing an update on the Barbican Centre’s 2019/20 Business Plan.

Report of the Artistic Director.

The Board received a report of the Artistic Director providing an update on the Barbican Centre’s International Strategy.

Report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

The Board received a report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer providing an update on the Barbican Centre’s Retail Review.

Report of the Director of Operations & Buildings.

The Board received a report of the Director of Operations and Buildings advising Members of the risk management system in place at the Barbican, updating on the significant risks that had been identified and outlining measures for mitigation of these risks.

Report of the Managing Director.

The Board considered and approved a Gateway 2 Project Proposal report of the Managing Director regarding the Barbican Centre Fire Rectification Works concerning Fire Signage.

Report of the Managing Director.

The Board considered and approved a Gateway 2 Project Proposal report of the Managing Director regarding the Barbican Centre Fire Rectification Works concerning Sprinkler Systems.

Joint report of the Managing Director and Head of Music Barbican Centre.

The Board considered and approved a Gateway 2 Project Proposal report of the Managing Director and Head of Music concerning the Concert Hall Steinway Piano Purchase.

Report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer.

The Board considered a report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer setting out the Business Review for the January 2018 Period 10 accounts.

Report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer.

The Board considered a report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer providing Members with an update on the Barbican Budget for 2019/20.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered three reports of the Town Clerk providing Members with an update on urgent actions taken since the last Board meeting.

There was one question.

There was one urgent item.