22 February 2007
New Barbican Managing Director
The City of London Corporation today (Thursday 22 February)
announced that Nicholas Kenyon has accepted the job of Managing
Director of the City of London’s Barbican Centre. Nicholas, who is
currently Controller, BBC Proms, Live Events and TV Classical Music
at the BBC, succeeds Sir John Tusa who retires in August after 12
years at the helm.
The Barbican is an internationally acclaimed centre for the arts
and plays an important role in making London a culturally rich city
in which to live and work. It was built as the "City’s gift to the
nation" by the City of London Corporation in the early 1980s and
has just completed a major, 7-year refurbishment of all the venues,
public spaces and entrance, at a cost of £35million, fully funded
by the City of London Corporation. The Barbican is celebrating its
25th birthday on 3rd March with a special fortnight of over 100
events around the Centre, from 21 February and 10 March.
Commenting on the appointment, John Barker, Chairman of the City
of London’s Barbican Centre Committee said: "Nicholas brings to the
role exceptional skills and an excellent knowledge of the arts. He
is adept at working with people and has managed the BBC Proms very
successfully over the last twelve seasons as well as Radio 3 before
that. I am also grateful to Sir John whose contribution to the
Barbican and the arts over the last decade is immeasurable."
Commenting on the appointment Sir John Tusa said: "Nick Kenyon
is an old friend and a colleague from the BBC. I’ve no doubts that
he’ll do the job extremely well. I am also sure that everyone at
the Barbican will give Nick the same amount of support, friendship
and cooperation as I have had. The Barbican Centre is at a 25 year
high, largely due to Graham Sheffield’s artistic direction. I am
confident it will continue to go from strength to strength".
Nicholas said: "I’m delighted that the City of London
Corporation has asked me to take forward the inspiring work of Sir
John Tusa, Graham Sheffield and the Barbican team. They have done a
fantastic job over the last decade, bringing the Barbican to new
heights. The Barbican is a unique and wonderful arts centre,
looking better than ever after its refurbishment, and currently
full of great events to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Its
partnership with the City of London brings creativity and
excitement to the Square Mile and to London as a whole,
highlighting the vital contribution of the arts to the life of a
great city."
Ends
For further information please call: Fiona Milligan, City of
London Press Office, Direct Line: 020 7332 3451 or Mobile: 07900
244 200 or
email.
About the City of London Corporation:
The City of London provides local government services for the
Square Mile, the financial and commercial heart of Britain, and is
committed to maintaining and enhancing the status of the business
City as the world's leading international financial and business
centre through its policies and services. Its responsibilities also
extend far beyond the City boundaries and include management of the
Barbican Centre, Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, 10,000
acres of open space including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest,
three wholesale food markets, as well as acting as the London Port
Health Authority.