T he Barbican's unwavering dedication to nurturing young creatives resonates deeply with Sotheby’s shared mission of dismantling systemic barriers and fostering a diverse and inclusive art industry. To celebrate and commemorate this dynamic partnership, we sat down with the facilitators and participants of the project to learn more...
Sotheby's: What is the mission statement for Young Barbican?
Karena Johnson: Young Barbican is a programme for young people aged 16-29 with an aim to widen access to arts and create development opportunities within the sector, so that all young people, regardless of their background can fully experience the joy of the arts.
The programme comprises of a membership scheme, providing discounted tickets, access to targeted events intended for the age demographic, and engagement programmes such as our Young Barbican Takeover, Young Poets and Barbican Young Changemakers, putting young people's ideas, skills and creative practice at the heart of the Barbican’s output.
Thanks to Sotheby’s generous support, on 1 April 2023 we were able to programme our Young Barbican: The Takeover, a dynamic festival created by young people for young people and the first of many takeover events we aim to do.
How do think Young Barbican is shaking up the way events are approached in the museum space?
By truly developing events with young people, for young people. For example, the Takeover engaged young people from diverse backgrounds to form a steering group, they decided on the themes of the festival, what they wanted to see and informed the content on the day. This enabled choice and influence on work that is made for them within the institutional space of an arts centre.
Most Curators are not 25 anymore, and therefore presumptions are often made about what young people are interested in. By equalising the power of decision-making we ensured that young people’s voices are heard and demonstrated, not only experts can make programming decisions.
What was biggest challenge you faced when devising the events?
To turn the institution, that the Barbican is, into an inclusive place which challenges the tendency of cultural formality that we see in arts venues generally. The Barbican’s reputation as a place of ‘high’ art, home of the London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Shakespeare Company means that some young people may come to us with certain expectations or not come at all. We needed to challenge that.
So we tried to speak to young people through our marketing and promotion in a way that connects. A further challenge was to ensure appropriate reception that allows for young people who may not have visited arts institutions before to feel comfortable and welcomed.
Was there anything that surprised you, that you hadn’t considered before embarking on the project?
When devising a theme for Young Barbican: The Takeover 2023, the group came up with ‘Euphoric Futures’, with four zones of activity focusing on how to tackle difficult topics such as climate change while remaining positive and hopeful for the future. Despite the climate crisis arguably being the biggest challenge humanity will face in the coming years, it was surprising how young people aren’t often at the centre of these conversations. The steering group of young people wanted to tackle this topic in a positive way, opposing the overwhelming and depressing way it is often presented in the media. The group thought about the theme in a holistic way, thinking about how it can affect mental health and engaging with activism around radical positivity. This was a very inspiring approach.
How can the work you're doing best be amplified and shared with new audiences?
Partnering with Sotheby's presents a unique opportunity to showcase the work of Young Barbican to a new and diverse audiences. By collaborating with Sotheby's to organise events or exhibitions that feature the creative endeavours of Young Barbican creatives, this partnership can help bridge the gap between the two institutions and expose Young Barbican to art enthusiasts and collectors connected to Sotheby's
How important is it to have support from other organisations when presenting a series like this?
Collaboration with other organisations provides access to a broader range of resources, including funding, facilities, technical expertise, and networks. This support can significantly enhance the quality and scope of the events by enabling the inclusion of diverse perspectives, innovative technologies, and specialised skills. It opens opportunities to tap into the collective knowledge, experience, and resources of partner organisations, enriching the overall production and presentation of the Young Barbican offer.
The partnership with Sotheby’s allowed us to put on an amazing event, which wouldn’t have happened without their support. It has amplified the work we’re doing, making it visible to a wider audience. Both organisations have shared objectives and synergy around diversifying the art world and increasing opportunities for young people. This gives us the opportunity to share learnings, improving the way we work and ensuring longer term and meaningful change.
“It’s important to support young creatives, particularly in spaces like this, in big institutions, because it gives them the space to share their work with new audiences and to share how they experience the world.”
“Young People are the future of theatre, art, drag, creativity, they have so much to offer and they have a lot of potential – that has been showcased today with this takeover”
“It’s important to give young people a space of a platform where they can be creative, let their creative juices flow, try something different… Without workshops like those in Young Barbican takeover, these pieces of art never get made.”
“It’s a blessing to have this visibility and to have spaces like this. It’s really important to have moments like this, to keep coming together.”
“It was refreshing to hear senior Barbican staff talk candidly about huge challenges that they and the whole arts sector face in 2023. It made us realise that we were being asked crucial questions and that we had real power to make change – it’s been a major learning experience.”
“I joined the Young Changemakers with the hope of developing my relationship with collaborative change and understanding of the arts from a business point of view. I have aspirations to one day run my own arts and culture projects for young people and underrepresented groups, and to get to that place I really need to understand deeper systemic and inclusivity issues that exist in the creative industry.”
"I joined the Young Changemakers with the hope of developing my relationship with collaborative change and understanding of the arts from a business point of view."
“Our recommendations encompass various aspects such as youth engagement, grassroots organisation involvement, accessibility, anti-colonialism, and innovative utilisation of upcoming spaces. I firmly believe that these recommendations will be transformative in creating a more inclusive and dynamic Barbican that resonates with and serves the diverse needs of its community.”
“There is an artist in all of us and art world is improved greatly when diversity, life and community is breathed into it.”
“I have had an extremely positive experience as a Barbican Young Changemaker, gaining insight into the skills involved in institutional change. Working on the Barbican Renewal recommendations, I began by researching accessibility and outreach initiatives in the arts and heritage sector. I learnt about tangible and intangible barriers to access. We spoke a lot about the extractive power dynamics that Barbican is at risks of perpetuating as an influential cultural monolith. I hope that my recommendation, the creation of a Barbican Anticolonial Group, will address this risk.”
