On the 5th of December, the City Corporation approved a £191 million funding package to support critical repairs and upgrades at the iconic Barbican Centre.
The move was approved by elected Members of the City Corporation’s top decision-making body, the Court of Common Council. The package will fund phase one of the Barbican Renewal Programme, a five-year project with plans to secure the future of the internationally renowned, grade II listed site.
The Barbican Centre was opened in 1982 by HM the Queen, who declared it as ‘one of the wonders of the modern world’. Future works will safeguard the venue’s place as a leading arts venue in the 21st century, with improvements made to accessibility and energy efficiency.
The programme is one of several transformative projects being delivered by the City Corporation, including the Salisbury Square Development, which will house the new City of London police HQ and the new London Museum at West Smithfield. The Barbican Renewal programme is a key part of Destination City, the City Corporation’s growth strategy for the Square Mile as a world-leading business, culture and leisure location.
In 2025, a major fundraising campaign will be launched by the Barbican Centre to enable a complete restoration and refurbishment of key spaces in the venue. This includes upgrades to its unique brutalist foyers, lakeside terrace, and conservatory – the largest glasshouse in central London.
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Funding raised will open up these spaces to all, deliver major new creative community and learning activities, and make major sustainability improvements to ensure net-zero commitments are met.
As one of the world’s leading multi-arts venues, the Barbican Centre has showcased groundbreaking art from around the world for over four decades. It reaches 1.5 million people every year, with initiatives aimed at expanding its reach and enabling the widest amount of people to experience the power of art.
The project will sensitively preserve the complex, respecting its Grade II listed status, and the original architectural vision of the arts centre, which is now more than 40 years old. Built between 1971-1982, the Barbican relies on aged and outdated systems, and an ambitious programme of restoration is needed.
City Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said: “The Barbican Centre is a fantastic international venue with an exciting future. This funding underlines our support, recognising its unique role as a leading cultural institution and driver of economic growth, contributing £86 million a year to the UK economy and supporting around 1,100 jobs across London. The Barbican Centre is central to the Square Mile’s cultural identity and plays a pivotal role in our attractiveness as a place to work and visit.”
The Barbican Renewal Programme design process – led by Allies and Morrison, Asif Khan Studio, and Buro Happold – has already involved significant public consultation, with feedback and ideas being sought from the public and stakeholders, and a new, more detailed phase of consultation will begin early next year.
Subject to planning permission, construction will begin in 2027 with the first phase complete in time for the Barbican’s 50th anniversary in 2032.
The City Corporation is one of the largest funders of heritage and cultural activities in the UK, investing over £130m every year. The organisation manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Library, The London Archives, and Keats House. It also supports the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Museum.
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