The Barbican has revealed that the 2012/2013 financial year was its most successful to date excluding Olympic related business.
• The 2012/2013 year was 4% above budget and 23% above 2011/2012 figures (excluding Olympic business). • When Olympic business is included the Barbican achieved a 66% increase on 2011/2012. • The Barbican Hall (the venue’s 2,000 seat auditorium) achieved 98% occupancy during 2012/2013.
The Barbican has attributed its success to a number of factors, including the launch of Barbican Business Events, which has led to more collaboration between the Barbican’s commercial and arts offering. This has in turn allowed the Barbican to develop more content and theming, generating creative events that live on as engaging and innovative learning experiences. The additional revenue is channelled directly back into the Barbican’s Arts and Creative learning offering, creating a sustainable future for the whole venue.
Barbican Business Events, General Manager, Anthony Hyde: “The Olympics meant that the 2012/2013 financial year was always going to be above average, however the fact that we grew our regular business to such significant levels at the same time is a testament to the hard work displayed by the whole team – from sales and marketing to delivery, logistics and infrastructure. Our expectation is to continue this success, aided by changes to the Centre, including the launch of Milton Court and refurbishments to the Garden Room, Conservatory and Terrace. We are also supporting clients through ongoing investment in the latest technology.”
The completion of Milton Court is an important step in the Barbican’s growth. It will offer an ideal space for conferences, meetings, dinners and award ceremonies in the City of London. It boasts a 608-seat concert hall with retractable seating, a 227-seat theatre, a studio theatre and a TV studio suite.
In September 2013, in response to client feedback, the Barbican will launch its refurbished Garden Room, Conservatory and Terrace, the three spaces are benefiting from significant investment to increase capacity whilst renovating and refurbishing existing infrastructure. In particular, the addition of a staircase to the terrace will open up the spaces, providing one of the world’s most unusual and flexible networking spaces. The renovation work will be completed for summer 2013, with an official launch in September.
The Barbican will be highlighting Milton Court and the newly refurbished rooms at The Meetings Show UK from 9-11 July (Stand I3) and will be creating a launch event in September to showcase the finished products.