Think of the City, think smart suits and business? Well, prepare to broaden your minds. The Barbican, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London Symphony Orchestra and Museum of London are all going to help their local area capitalise on its cultural heritage – and thus raise its events game.
The ‘Culture Mile’ is an ambitious idea to transform the area between Farringdon and Moorgate within 10-15 years – while maintaining its standing as a key financial district. By encouraging collaborations between local institutions and making the area more attractive and accessible to a wider audience, its events offer will be lifted too.
Slated to open in December 2018, Crossrail’s Elizabeth Line will make Farringdon the only place where the London Underground, Thameslink and Crossrail all interlink. Heathrow will be just 30 minutes away.
Two landmark building projects are in the pipeline too. The Museum of London is on its way to West Smithfield, where it will be a major new venue for private events. There are also plans for a state-of-the-art concert hall, the Centre for Music.
Meanwhile, the City of London Corporation will be upgrading local signage, creating more green spaces and overseeing new art installations (it unveiled Culture Mile Pop Ups this week). All of this should make for more pleasant delegate arrivals and smoother departures.
Barbican Centre MD Sir Nicholas Kenyon described Culture Mile as a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ and confirmed he’d be working with other institutions to ‘transform the area over the next decade and to create a vibrant creative community’.
All you culture vultures out there will also enjoy this list of the best museums and galleries available for events