Claire Spencer will lead the Barbican Centre after beingย appointed by the City of London Corporation as its first-ever Chief Executiveย Officer, following a far-reaching recruitment search.
Spencer (pictured), described as an experienced and dynamic arts leader, will takeย up her new post in May 2022, after stepping down from Arts Centreย Melbourne,ย where sheย has beenย CEO since November 2014.ย ย Sheย hasย nearlyย 20 yearsโ experience at the Sydney Opera House andย Arts Centre Melbourne.
She will play a key role in the work underway to embed equity,ย diversity and inclusion across the Barbican Centreโs operations. Sheย will also be an integral part of the Barbican Renewalย Project,ย theย design teams shortlist was announced last month, which will putย culture front-and-centre of the City of Londonโsย recovery from the pandemic.ย
In her new role,ย Spencer willย drive forward the Barbican Centreโs innovative agenda as an internationalย centre of creative excellence;ย pushing ambitious targets for audiences,ย education, and the workforce, and building strong relationships with theย diverse and vibrantย communities the Centre represents and serves.
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Chair of the City of London Corporationโsย Barbican Centre Board, Tom Sleigh, said: ย “I am delightedย that Claire is to head-up the Barbican team as CEO. ย She brings aย brilliant reputation as an arts venue administratorย and a track-record in theย sector that is second to none. Her leadership on EDI issues in previousย roles was a significant additionalย factor in the recruitment panel’s clearย endorsement. ย โThis is an important time for the Barbican Centre as weย celebrate its 40thย year and continue our recovery from the pandemic.ย Claireโs excellent experience and knowledge will be invaluable in taking usย through to the next stages.โ
Talking about her newย appointment, Spencer, added: ย โSomeย of my earliest memories in the arts are of the Barbican Centre and the prospectย of returning to London to take up thisย leadership opportunity at this pivotalย moment in the Barbicanโs history is both a huge honour and a greatย privilege. ย I look forward toย working with the Barbican Board, theย dedicated Barbican team, our many stakeholders and the City of London Corporationย to take thisย iconic organisation into the next phase of its creativeย contribution to London.โ
Theย role of CEO is a new role created following the retirement of Sir Nicholasย Kenyon as Managing Director in mid-2021.ย
The City of Londonย Corporation, which is the founder and principal funder of the Barbican Centre,ย isย the fourth largest funder of heritage and cultural activities in the UK andย invests over ยฃ130m everyย year.
In partnershipย with the Barbican, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London Symphonyย Orchestra,ย and Museum of London, the City Corporation is leading theย development of Culture Mile betweenย Farringdon and Moorgate, aย multi-million-pound initiative to create a new cultural and creativeย destination for London.
