Staff changes follow allegations of racism at Londons Barbican Center

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The Barbican Center has reshuffled its staff following the June publication of Barbican Stories, a dossier of 98 anonymous accounts of alleged racism and discrimination in London’s prestigious Performing Arts Hall.

Sir Nicholas Kenyon CBE, the music critic and broadcaster who has served as the institution’s chief executive since 2007, will step down next month, The Art Newspaper reported. Will Gompertz, who recently joined the Barbican staff as director of arts and learning, and Sandeep Dwesar, currently the institution’s director of operations and finance, will together serve as interim CEO. “Our immediate priority is the colleagues who have suffered from racism within the organization and the promotion of our action plan against racism,” said Gompertz and Dwesar in a joint statement. Nina Bhagwat, who previously held a similar role at Warner Music Group, has joined the Barbican leadership team as Acting Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

According to its press release, Barbican Stories was written “by current and former Barbican employees of global ethnic majorities” and “funded by white Barbican staff and friends” in response to what the authors call of “The Barbican Centre’s“ Inadequate Response to Blacks Lives Matter Movement and June 2020 Protests. ”Contributions to the book detail racist and prejudicial comments and behavior from visitors and Barbican staff, as well as a precarious work culture and limited career advancement for employees of color. One author relates that his job title changed from “manager” to “assistant” without explanation; another describes a “model of POC being hired in precarious contracts and internship positions.” There is such a contrast in the daily realities between white staff, on permanent contracts, and the more precarious trainees with whom they work, which can cause micro-attacks. . . that impact the work environment, making us feel alienated and ashamed. Ironically, the release of Barbican Stories coincided with the start of Gompertz’s tenure as Director of Arts and Learning, and was conceived, in part, as “a silent protest marking the missed opportunity to hire a candidate for this position of power beyond the usual (or expected) demographic.

Gompertz came to the BBC’s Barbican, where he was the arts editor since 2009; prior to that he was director of Tate Media. Prior to coming to the Barbican, Dwesar, a chartered accountant, consulted with local governments on management training and privatization initiatives.

In addition to restructuring its staff, the Barbican has announced that law firm Lewis Silkin LLP will conduct an external review of staff experiences with racism, and has pledged to implement several reforms, including reporting practices. “Robust” and supportive structures for employees affected by racism in the workplace and inclusiveness goals for staffing. The institution is also committed to developing “new ways of working to ensure that casual staff are part of the Barbican community.” Outgoing Kenyon, who was hired as the Telegraph’s opera critic on Tuesday, welcomed the external review and the changes ahead. “Now is the time to move on to the next stage in the life of this great institution,” he said, “and for the Barbican to have new leadership for a new generation.

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