Barbican Cements Position as a Premier Destination for Audiovisual Shoots

The Barbican Centre, London's iconic multi-arts and conference venue, is growing its position as a location of choice for film and photography shoots.

In the last calendar year alone, the Barbican Business Events team has hosted more than £150k of shoots, attracting prestigious brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Adidas, Harper’s Bazaar, Amazon, John Lewis, Doc Martens, French Connection, Net a Porter, Madame Tussauds, and Tinie Tempah for Chase Vodka.

As a hub for high-profile productions, the Barbican's unique architectural and aesthetic appeal has made it a sought-after location for various high-profile shoots. This was recently highlighted when 'The Kitchen,' directed by Daniel Kaluuya and starring Kano, spent a week filming in the Barbican Conservatory. The film, which was recently released on Netflix, showcases the versatility and visually inspiring offering of the Barbican's spaces.

From the lush greenery of the Conservatory to the vastness of the Barbican Hall, and the iconic brutalist architecture framing the London skyline, the Barbican offers an array of unique filming locations. These spaces provide a mix of inspiring backdrops and transformable canvases for a wide range of productions.

With event planning and the arts at its core, the Barbican team is experienced in managing both large and small-scale productions. Each booking is allocated a dedicated event manager, ensuring shoots run smoothly and successfully. This operational excellence, combined with the venue's stunning aesthetics, makes the Barbican an ideal choice for filmmakers and photographers alike.

“The Barbican has had many memorable moments in images and on screens over the years, however, this focus from our team on the development of new business in this area is not just reaping significant rewards, it is also opening new areas of the venue and estate for external usage,” comments Barbican Head of Sales, Jenny Waller.  “As a not-for-profit organisation, the funds generated from these shoots are reinvested directly into our arts and learning programme, making this not just a growing revenue stream but an opportunity for us to enable the widest possible range of people to experience the joy of the arts.”

A representative of The Production Factory said following a recent shoot: “The Barbican team were incredibly helpful with all elements of pulling our shoot together. In preproduction they were quick to respond to all queries and very clear with the parameters we could work within. On the shoot day we had an assigned event manager to help that the day ran smoothly, and it made a huge difference having someone on hand to offer support as and when needed. Will definitely be coming back for another shoot soon!”

Further information on filming and photography opportunities are available through the Barbican Business Events sales team.  Barbican Business Events also exhibit annually at FOCUS London, the UK’s leading event bringing together suppliers and content creators.