LONDON.- The Barbican Centre today, Wednesday 15 April 2009, announced that Sir Brian McMaster is to join the Barbican Centre Board. Sir Brian, former Director of the Edinburgh International Festival and author of the influential DCMS report, Supporting Excellence in the Arts: From Measurement to Judgement has been appointed to the Board from 1 April 2009. He joins three other recently appointed external (i.e. from outside the City of London Corporation) Board members: Roly Keating, the BBC’s Director of Archive Content and former Controller of BBC2; Sue Robertson, Principal of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and former director of London Arts; and Christopher Purvis CBE. Christopher has been appointed as the first Chairman of the Barbican Centre’s new Development Committee, in which role he will provide leadership for the Centre’s development function and also become ex-officio, a main Board member.

The City of London Corporation provides the Barbican Centre as part of its contribution to the cultural life of London and the nation. Ten of the Centre’s Board members are Members of the Court of Common Council. Reflecting the Court’s wish to complement City Members’ skills with relevant expertise three external members have, in recent years, previously been appointed - and that number has now been increased to six, including the Chairman of the new Development Committee. Keith Salway and Lesley King-Lewis remain as external members.

Jeremy Mayhew , Chairman of the Barbican Centre Board, said: “I am delighted that Brian, Roly, Sue and Christopher have agreed to join us. Their very considerable experience of and expertise in the arts will be invaluable as we take the Centre forward under its Managing Director Sir Nicholas Kenyon. In my first year as Chairman, one of my main priorities has been to strengthen and modernise the Barbican Centre’s governance – and, to that end, we have now doubled the number of non-City Corporation Board members, and created new Finance and Development Committees.

“I’d like to thank Board members for embracing these vital governance reforms. I’d also like to thank John Robins for his extremely valuable contribution to the Board over many years. I am delighted that John will continue to be involved with the Barbican Centre, as he has agreed to become a Member of the Barbican Centre Trust and to remain a member of our Finance Committee.”