You would be forgiven for thinking that London’s second major arts centre is designed for short-term prisoners.
In the chaos that followed Nick Kenyon’s beheading, Claire Spencer was recruited from Arts Centre Melbourne, specifically for her leadership in addressing ‘diversity issues’.
Now, two years on and with no-one saying why, Claire’s gone. She lasted just 18 months.
The Barbican has meanwhile tranquilized – which is to say it no longer gets much outside attention and the City of London Corporation can manage its comings and goings in soporific press releases, like the one below. We’ll see if we can find out more.
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Chair of the Barbican Centre Board, Sir William Russell, has paid tribute to Claire Spencer, the arts centre’s Chief Executive Officer, after she decided to step down from the role.
He said:
“In her time here, Claire has made a huge contribution to both the Barbican and to the wider City of London Corporation.
“She was instrumental in helping the Barbican reopen, recover, and reestablish itself following the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“She has consistently championed the Barbican Renewal Programme, taking it from an idea on paper to the on-the-ground delivery of the first works. And she has brought leadership and focus to the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion agenda, recognising that the Barbican’s legacy on this issue required tangible action and commitment to change. I am enormously grateful for everything she has done.
“As a leader, Claire has always been clear sighted and determined to do the absolute best for the Barbican, whilst also being deeply empathetic and inclusive, and most of all great fun.
“I know I speak for many at the Barbican and across the City Corporation, as well as for myself, when I say she will be a much-missed colleague.
“In due course, and following a period of reflection, the Barbican Board will be starting the process to recruit a new CEO, advertising and searching globally for the best candidate.
“Claire will be a hard act to follow, but I have every confidence that this position – leading one of the world’s greatest arts centres in one of the world’s greatest cities – will attract the highest level of talent and interest from around the globe.
“In the meantime, David Farnsworth will continue to act as the Barbican’s Interim CEO, supported by Ali Mirza as Interim Deputy CEO and the rest of the Barbican’s brilliant Director team. I’m very grateful to Simon Latham and other colleagues at the City Bridge Foundation for continuing to cover for David during his absence from the Foundation.”
And if you think that’s anaemic, here’s what Claire posted to her LinkedIn community, the lifeblood of a migrant executive:
I wanted to let you know that I have resigned from my position as CEO of the Barbican Centre.
This has not been a decision I have arrived at lightly.
Joining the Barbican has been one of the great privileges of my career and I have given it my all. Over these last two years, working with the brilliant Barbican Team we have achieved a lot. I believe it is time to hand over to someone with fresh legs (football analogy still stands this week) to lead the Centre into the next phase of its future.
The Barbican is a special place with its own unique history – together with the Barbican Team we have walked through a period of significant change, creating positive momentum of systemic transformation. There are a few things that especially stand out to me.
We created and activated a values-based strategy centred on sustainable development, equity, diversity and inclusion, leading to a different Barbican Centre than the one that emerged after the pandemic – one with the purpose and values to guide it through further transformation in the years ahead.
We also secured the seed funding and support to commence the renewal of the building’s infrastructure. The Barbican will now be able to function long into the future, remain a leading destination for the Arts and open the creative experience for everyone.
We haven’t only secured the physical future of the Barbican – but we have set the path to rebuild trust within our entire ecosystem: the team, the local community, funders, donors, and crucially the audiences and artists who fill our spaces every day.
It has been a privilege to serve at the Barbican Centre. I am proud of all that we have achieved in this time.
My thanks go to the Barbican Board, the City of London Corporation and the many wonderful artists and supporters who work with us.
And my deep thanks to the Barbican Team – who have collaborated with me in this endeavour. Their brilliance and commitment are immeasurable, and I am confident that I leave the Centre in their very capable hands.
The post Chaos at Barbican Centre as Aussie CEO quits inside two years appeared first on Slippedisc.
