Agenda item

Report of the Director of Creative Learning.

N.B. – to be read in conjunction with the non-public appendices of this report at Item 13.

The Board received a report and accompanying presentation from the Director of Creative Learning and the Head of Creative Learning, following which Members took the opportunity to ask a number of questions. During discussion, the following points were raised:

• Members highlighted the fact that the Creative Learning team had engaged with over 40,000 young people over the last year, which represented an astounding level of impact. It was suggested that the Barbican should do more to make others aware of the huge impact of the Creative Learning team’s work, including the wider Court of Common Council and prospective funders who might support even more wide-reaching activity in future.
• It was noted that an additional 35,000 people would also be engaged in some way through the forthcoming Walthamstow Garden Party.
• The Director confirmed that the intention was to grow and expand the Creative Learning team’s activity and that work was underway to identify a suitable location for additional dedicated space. It was clarified however that growth within the Creative Learning team would require a corresponding increase in resource in other departments, such as Communications & Marketing, to adequately support this additional work. Consequently, wider planning would be required in this area and to this end a business plan was being developed which would more accurately identify resource implications.
• With reference to expanding national and regional reach, it was conformed that the intention was to seek to develop national partnerships for the Barbican Box programme, which would serve as a blueprint to be replicated in other areas. The team would be working with potential partners for this concept in the coming year.
• It was noted that the Creative Learning team’s work formed a significant part of the City Corporation’s overall educational strategy.
• In commenting on the financial summary, it was noted that the breakdown excluded the majority of overhead costs. It was urged that these be included in future so as to provide a more accurate breakdown of costs and budgets and also to allow prospective funders to see where their contributions might be spent.
• In response to queries around targeting activity to addressing areas of need, the Director advised that the team had been expanding its area of activity to increase work in outer London boroughs.

RECEIVED.