Agenda item

Report of the Managing Director.

The Board received a report of the Managing Director which included updates from the Barbican Centre’s Departmental Directors.

The Director of Arts reported that the 2013/14 season had been launched to a positive reception. She particularly drew attention to the return of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to the Centre. The planned three year collaboration would include Richard II this year followed by Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 the following year. The Director added that following a recent meeting, the RSC were keen to work with the Centre in a broader way and reported that there could be opportunities for collaboration in Creative Learning.

The Director of Creative Learning reported that his team had recently given a presentation to the new intake of students at the Guildhall School and this had been met with an enthusiastic reception. He also reported the launch of Open School East the previous week and the well-received ‘Hack the Barbican’ event which had been held over the summer months.

The Director highlighted that his team were now working on a three year plan that would encompass all art forms and reported the team would increasingly look towards enterprise activities, together with outreach work as part of the business plan.

The Operations and Buildings Director reported that the backstage refurbishment at the Concert Hall and the Garden Room refurbishment had been successfully completed. He reported that the Centre now expected a delayed completion date of 4 October for the new flying system in the Theatre.

The Chief Operating and Financial Officer reported that the number of business events at the Centre was meeting expectations and there were a number of positive enquiries about the newly refurbished Garden Room in particular. He added that a new range of house wares in the Barbican Shop marked an expansion of the current retail range.