Agenda item

Chief Officers to be heard.

Chief Officers were heard in respect of the updates on re-opening City attractions and services. The following updates were noted:

Cultural and Visitor Development Director

The Guildhall Art Gallery reopened on 2 June, which was delayed due to the Fishmonger’s Hall inquest. A temporary display from the Worshipful Company of Joiner Sealers has launched in the gallery. The Noel Coward Art & Style exhibition opened on 14 June. School groups had booked for Amphitheatre tours for June and July, and officers were planning autumn school visits. Family events continued online, and an on-site family event was scheduled for July.

The City Information Centre was operating on Saturday and Sunday only, and in May also opened for both bank holidays.

Outdoor Arts Programme launched on 13 June on Tower Bridge with ‘Inside Out’ which saw thousands of visitors coming to see the photos displayed on the bridge. The Outdoor Arts Programme also has a number of activities that fall under Vibrant Offer recovery plans including an extensive outdoor exhibition programme; Guildhall lunch markets with extended evening markets in summer; and lunchtime music partnerships.

A number of highlights from the summer programme were noted, including co-commissions with Greenwich and Docklands Festival; Guildhall Yard cinema would restart in August; cultural events in the Yard celebrating Latin American culture; and a Mela Bangladeshi New Year celebration located in Aldgate Square.

With respect to marketing and development, the focus was on promoting to the  domestic tourism market, in collaboration with a number of partners including London & Partners, the Central London Alliance, Visit Britain, and England’s Historic Cities, as well as publicity campaigns on bus stops and radio campaigns.

Culture Mile had just completed the pilot Imagine Scheme and Members would receive the links to these films following the meeting.

Head of Tower Bridge & the Monument

Since the last update to the Committee, visitor attractions had opened on 17 May. Tower Bridge saw 6000 visitors during half term, and on Sunday 13 June reached visitor capacity (with Covid restrictions). There had been filming opportunities, including the ‘Inside Out’ event on Sunday. Front-line services continued to operate, including for security and raising the bridge for river traffic.

Director of London Metropolitan Archives

The LMA reopened on 10 May, offering access to original archives for a limited number of researchers who had pre-booked. The LMA was fully booked until the end of July. Online resources had been enhanced to mitigate the reduced number of onsite visitors. The outdoor exhibition on football, A Capital Game, which was displayed in Guildhall Yard, was off to a good start and would relocate to Aldgate Square later in the week. The Lord Mayor planned to attend the exhibition.

Head of Barbican & Community Libraries

The libraries have offered services in some way, shape or form throughout the pandemic. As restrictions eased in April, visitors have been allowed into the premises in limited numbers with limited browsing times. There had been issues due to a ventilation system, with failures at both Shoe Lane and Artizan Street libraries, however these have been resolved and all libraries are now operating. The libraries were not expecting to fully open until later in July, in light of recent announcements, however they are consistently extending services and hours where possible and when safe to do so.

Principal Curator, Keats House

Keats House reopened on specific days from 20 May, with strict visitor numbers and booking times to ensure visitor confidence and safety. These limitations would remain for the foreseeable future but additional opening times will be added when possible. The shop was fully open with a new till system which had been installed prior to reopening. Walk-up ticket sales are permitted subject to availability. Keats House was also working with Cultural and Visitor Development on outdoor initiatives, including commemorating the anniversary of passing of the Hampstead Heath Act. Arrangements have been made with Keats Community Library to deliver a number of COVID-secure events for Hampstead Summer Festival in the garden of Keats House. In autumn 2021, the Keats200 outdoor exhibition would be displayed in a number of locations around London, to coincide with Open House London and Keats’s birthday celebrations.