A world-class arts and learning organization, the Barbican pushes the boundaries of all major art forms including dance, film, music, theatre and visual arts.

We attract new arts audiences and participants, creating inspiring arts experiences for all. From first encounters to higher education programmes, we develop interests, skills, confidence and careers.

We work with outstanding artists to create an innovative international programme that crosses art forms, collaborating with organisations from around the globe to give audiences opportunities to experience outstanding work by acclaimed international companies and artists.

We celebrate the artists of today and invest in those of tomorrow. We work with artists at every stage of their career, supporting and fostering opportunities for exciting new talent as well as promoting the work of world-class artists. Our ambitious cultural partnerships will offer outstanding creative opportunities for every young person across eight east London boroughs.

The Barbican Redevelopment Scheme was a project of staggering scale and complexity. It took nearly three decades to design and build; involved the design of over 2,000 flats, two schools and an arts centre; it required the realignment of an Underground line and the excavation of 190,000 m³ of soil and at its peak employed a thousand workers. The Centre took over a decade to build and was opened by The Queen in 1982, who declared it ‘one of the modern wonders of the world’ with the building seen as a landmark in terms of its scale, cohesion and ambition. Its stunning spaces and unique location at the heart of the Barbican Estate have made it an internationally recognized venue, set within an urban landscape acknowledged as one of the most significant architectural achievements of the 20th century.