London venue The Barbican has announced a record-breaking year for its Business Events division.
The past financial year saw notable increases in the number of the venue’s events, attendance, and financial contributions. The Barbican Business Events team hosted 402 events, a 14% rise from the previous year’s 352. Attendance also saw a 13% increase, with 189,000 attendees compared to 167,000 previously. Financially, these events contributed over £2.9 million to the Barbican.
As a not-for-profit organisation, the revenue generated from these events supports the Barbican’s arts and learning programmes, which aims to enable a broader audience to engage with the arts.
Key highlights of the year included significant growth in Barbican Hall hires, hosting 28 graduation events for nine universities, 11 multi-day corporate conferences, the London premiere of the Oscar-winning film ‘Poor Things’, three London Fashion Week runway shows, and 31 weddings.
The Barbican Business Events team also expanded, welcoming two new hires.
Looking ahead, Barbican Business Events said it plans to continue expanding its offerings, utilising “innovative and flexible” spaces like its car parks, which were used for London Fashion Week shows. The upcoming 2024/2025 year will also focus on advancing the Barbican’s Renewal Programme, aimed at upgrading infrastructure and enhancing operational and environmental performance.
Jackie Boughton, director of commercial at the Barbican, said: “The success our team has achieved this past year is a testament to their hard work and dedication. The surge in bookings and attendee numbers, combined with the diversity of events, underscores our commitment to excellence. We look forward to building on this momentum, continuing to innovate, and creating even more memorable events.”
