Barbican Estate history
Barbican Centre
Europe's largest multi-arts venue
This unique venue presents a diverse range of art, music, theatre, dance, film and creative learning events.
The Barbican provides a vibrant London home for established international artists, and also help commissioners to launch young performers. As well as performances, the Barbican hosts workshops, talks and debates. Keep an eye on the Barbican's programme of events for information on what's on.
Music
The Barbican welcomes the world's top musicians in both classical and contemporary music to its concert hall. It is home to its resident orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and its associate orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Cinema
The only cinema in the City of London, the Barbican hosts and programmes a diverse range of film festivals, screen talks, seasons and events, as well as showing the biggest new releases, specialist and international cinema, and live events.
Galleries
The Barbican has two art galleries, the main gallery, Barbican Art Gallery, and a smaller space, The Curve. One of the UK's leading art spaces, Barbican Art Gallery presents the best of international visual art with a dynamic mix of art, architecture, design, fashion and photography. The Curve is dedicated to showing new commissions created by leading international artists in direct response to the distinctively shaped gallery space.
Barbican online
Audiences can also enjoy the Barbican Centre online, through podcasts, videos, articles and more.
Barbican complex
Barbican Centre is part of the Grade II listed Barbican complex, which was built on Blitz ruins from 1965 and is now recognised as a modern classic of brutalist architecture. A paean to ‘utopian living’, mixed towers and terrace blocks, many raised on columns, overlook lakes and lawns and a maze of highwalks.
The Barbican has a range of auditoria, rooms and spaces available for hire to host a wide range of events.
The City of London Corporation is the founder and principal funder of the Barbican Centre.
