The Barbican’s strategy to use Cinemas 2 and 3 as conference venues as well as cinemas has helped Barbican Business Events achieve its 2019-20 financial target in just nine months.
The new spaces, which have been particularly popular with last-minute bookers, each have a capacity of 150, the latest AV equipment and private registration, food and beverage areas.
To date, Barbican has seen a 5 percent increase in the number of business events held in the building during the last financial year. With delegate numbers also increasing, Barbican Business Events is now 17 percent ahead of 2018-19 in revenue generated and predicted to achieve its best financial year.
In addition to the increased revenue from Cinemas 2 and 3, the Business Events team has also continued to grow international business, particularly in the association sector. This has been achieved through longterm investment and focus on international sales and marketing activity ranging from PR to sales missions and attendance at global trade events.
High-profile events including WIRED Pulse AI at the Barbican, The London Conference on International Law and The Fast-Track Cities Conference have also raised the venue’s public profile, leading to greater interest from both organizers and delegates.
“This is the third year running that the Business Events team has achieved its goals in just nine months despite ever increasing targets,” says Jackie Boughton, head of Barbican Business Events. “I am incredibly proud of my team, who have worked tirelessly to both win the business and deliver exceptional customer service. Their hard work has in turn led to 42 percent repeat business, helping to ensure that the next 12 months will be another great success for Barbican Business Events.”
In addition to being a part of the Barbican Business Events meetings and event offering, Barbican Cinema offers a fully curated program of international cinema including thematic seasons, new releases and special events.
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. Its creative learning program further underpins everything it does. Over a million people attend events annually, hundreds of artists and performers are featured, and more than 300 staff work onsite. The architecturally renowned center opened in 1982 and comprises the Barbican Hall, the Barbican Theatre, The Pit, Cinemas 1, 2 and 3, Barbican Art Gallery, a second gallery The Curve, public spaces, a library, the Lakeside Terrace, a glasshouse conservatory, conference facilities and three restaurants. The City of London Corporation is the founder and principal funder of the Barbican Centre. For more info, visit Barbican
