Agenda item

Report of the Managing Director.

Members received a report of the Managing Director providing updates from the six Barbican Directors on their respective areas. The Managing Director prefaced discussion by referencing the recent success of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s performances at the Barbican. Board Members were shown an extract from a BBC Four programme which had focussed on the performances and the Barbican itself.

The Directors spoke to each update, with a number of questions asked by the Board:

Exhibition Hall 1/London Film School (LFS): It was confirmed that the agreement for the lease had now been signed and that enabling works would commence shortly. These would be completed by March 2016, allowing the LFS to then undertake their own works for completion by September 2017. It was confirmed that the Barbican had shared the various acoustic reports concerning the recent cinema works with the LFS, so as to ensure they could use the learning developed in terms of minimising noise impact on residents. Assistance had also been provided in developing communications plans so that residents would be kept updated on the status of works in as transparent and timely a manner as possible.

It was advised that the LFS were required to meet three conditions prior to the formal completion of the lease; one condition had already been met, the other two related to fundraising and planning applications.  Members sought clarity as to the position should the LFS fail to meet these conditions and any potential impact on the Barbican; following discussion, the City Surveyor was asked to liaise with the Town Clerk and Chairman following the meeting and produce a note clarifying the position for Board Members.

Exhibition Hall 2: It was confirmed that this matter had been considered by the Cultural Hub Working Party and there was general consensus that the space should be used for cultural purposes. The Centre was now reconsidering plans for the Hall in the light of ongoing work around the Cultural Hub and a collaborative approach was emerging.

Young Orchestra for London: Members sought clarity as to the relationship between the Young Orchestra for London (which had been established as part of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s tour) and those existing various youth and school orchestras in the City. The Managing Director clarified that the Young Orchestra for London project had been set up as a completely distinct initiative from existing orchestras, with the intention to have a diverse group of children involved representing all age groups and ability levels and coming from all London boroughs. The orchestra was also time-limited and not a continuing group; this contrasted with the likes of the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, which was an ongoing orchestra comprised of individuals of consistently high ability. The interrelationship between the various ensembles would be covered by the paper on under-18 provision to be presented to the Board later that year.

East London & City Culture Partnership: The Director of Creative Learning, in response to a Member’s query, confirmed that the Partnership was reporting in to the Supporting London Group officers. It was also advised that, in addition to partnership work with individual boroughs, over-arching strategic programmes of cross-borough collaboration were also being developed and implemented.

RECEIVED.