Photo by Dion Barrett
Our shared values
As a purpose-driven organisation, our values inform our work as well as our everyday decisions.
We want to ensure that creativity, inclusion, community, and enterprise are an essential part of the Barbican. By underpinning everything we do with our organisational values, by being inclusive, connected, sustainable, and daring, and by approaching our work in a joyful way, we hope that being part of the Barbican community will become a positive, life-enhancing experience for everyone.
How to apply
The Barbican is part of the City of London Corporation, so applications should be submitted via the City of London Corporate’s online application system, unless specified otherwise.
We’re committed to an inclusive recruitment process. For further information, general questions, or support with access requirements for your application, contact us at [email protected]
If you have any questions about the online application system, including technical problems, email us at [email protected]
Speculative CVs
We’re always interested to receive applications from anyone interested to work at the Barbican, but unfortunately, we’re unable to accept unsolicited CVs for vacancies, internships or work experience placements. All our current vacancies are listed on this page, so please do keep checking back.
Apprenticeships
Ever wondered what it’s like to work for an arts centre?
We offer a variety of apprenticeships placements throughout the year across many of our departments. They’re a great opportunity for you to develop and apply your skills with hands on experience working in different roles.
All current opportunities are listed with our other vacancies, so take a look and follow the instruction to apply.
You may also be interested in learning more about apprenticeships with the City of London Corporation.
Staff benefits
Our people are our greatest asset. Depending on the type of role and contract, we offer a wide range of benefits, including:
- Minimum annual leave entitlement of 24 days plus eight bank holidays (full time equivalent). There are subsequent increases to annual leave entitlement according to how long you’ve worked at the Barbican
- For certain roles we offer flexible and remote working
- Free tickets to many of our events (subject to availability)
- Discounts in our cafés, restaurants, bars and shop
- Training and development opportunities
- We offer the Local Government Pension Scheme - a public sector defined benefit pension scheme (this pension is based on your pay and length of service)
- Access to 24/7 independent and confidential Employee Assistance Programme which includes counselling and mental wellbeing support, financial and legal advice
- Gym membership discounts
- Sickness Absence and Pay
- Interest-free season ticket loan
- Cycle to work scheme
- Two days of volunteering leave per year to support a charity or organisation of your choice through our Employee Volunteering Programme
- Free entry to Hampstead Heath Lido and ponds
- Discounts on purchases through many retailers
Staff Networks
Staff diversity networks
We currently have five staff diversity networks: the Global Majority Network, the Women’s Network, the Disability Network, the Pride Network and the Parents, Carers and Guardians Network.
These networks are run voluntarily by our staff and regularly organise events to create a culture of inclusion and sense of community and allyship at the Barbican.
Our staff networks are also vital in helping us build accountability and transparency across the organisation by increasing awareness and encouraging advocacy.
Read more about our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work.
10 surprising things you might not know about the Barbican
1. We have our own Conservatory
It's the biggest in London after Kew Gardens with over 1,500 species of plants and trees. Its original purpose was to hide part of our theatre fly tower - the tall building which holds scenery to be flown in on the stage of the Theatre below. In early design proposals, the Conservatory was envisioned inside a giant glass pyramid on the lake.
2. There's a time capsule in our foundations
It was laid in the early 1970s as building work got underway and has stayed untouched ever since. Jack Waller, an engineer who worked for a number of years from start to finish on the building site, filmed the time capsule being cemented in.
3. The London Symphony Orchestra has recorded some of the most iconic movie soundtracks
Our Resident Orchestra, the LSO, has recorded soundtracks for some of the biggest blockbuster movies including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, plus many more.
4. We nurture the next generation of creatives
Every year we run hundreds of learning activities, development programmes and events to nearly 50,000 participants, providing the resources needed for more young people to develop their artistic practice and access jobs in the creative industry.
5. There are two Banksy artworks on our famous concrete walls
Inspired by our hugely popular Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition in 2017 titled, Basquiat: Boom For Real, Banksy paid us a clandestine visit just before the opening of the show and created two works overnight in homage to the pioneering New York artist.
6. Our popular Martini Bar was inspired by a James Bond exhibition
Believe it or not, but our Martini Bar started out as a pop-up bar in 2012 to cater to discerning Martini drinkers visiting our Designing 007 exhibition, and has been producing an exciting range of cocktails, both shaken and stirred, ever since.
7. Lights, camera, action!
The Barbican’s striking architecture has been the backdrop of numerous films and music videos for some of the biggest pop stars including Harry Styles’s hit 2022 single As It Was, Skepta's 2015 grime anthem Shutdown, and, of course, Kylie Minogue’s 2004 single Giving You Up featuring a giant 17-foot-high Kylie walking through the Barbican’s Beech Street.
8. A revolutionary theatre
On 8 October 1985, we presented the world premiere of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Les Misérables. The musical adaptation of a 19th century novel by Victor Hugo opened to initially unfavourable reviews. However, now in its 32nd year, Les Misérables is currently the world's longest running musical, and has played to more than 65 million people in 42 countries and 22 languages. And it all started in our theatre!
9. A different kind of cinema experience
The Barbican’s architects Chamberlin, Powell, and Bon had never designed a performing arts centre before they started working on the Barbican. As a result, when they were designing the cinema, they originally had the screen on the ceiling and the front row would have had moviegoers lying down on beds.
10. Beyond our walls
We often co-create events, from large-scale festivals to more-intimate talks and screenings, made by, for, and with our communities and neighbourhoods. We also offer community-led funding and grants which allows people to test new ideas and make things happen together in their local community.
Annual Report 2022-2023
Annual Report 2022-2023
Watch our Annual Report for 2022/23, featuring five staff members who reflect on a successful year and explain in their words what the Barbican means to them.
