REVIEW ANNUAL ANNUAL SOUTHBANK CENTRE ANNUAL REVIEW 2008/2009 Front cover: Gelitin’s ‘boating lake’, Psycho Buildings Back cover: Do Ho Suh’s installation, Psycho Buildings, Hayward Gallery ANNUAL REVIEW Chairman’s Foreword 3 Chief Executive’s Report 7 Artistic Year 11 Celebrating the Hayward Gallery 15 Great Orchestras 19 Artists in Residence 20 Saison Poetry Library 21 Highlights 22 Cultural Destination 31 Creative Spaces 32 Local Partners 35 Commercial Update 36 Donors and Supporters 38 Finance 42 Executive, Board and Staff 44 Evening event during the Festival of Food ANNUAL REVIEW 08/09 appointed Principal Director, Esa–Pekka Chairman’s Salonen, makes it an extraordinary time for classical music in London. The London Foreword Sinfonietta presented a special perform- Rick Haythornthwaite ance for its 40th anniversary at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in December, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlighten- ment once again presented landmark performances. Over the festive period The Clore Ballroom was home to In from the Cold, a packed programme of music, dance and cabaret for all the family, which also featured one of our many innovative Ballroom installations – a giant igloo cinema. Over 10,000 people took part in the free programme of Christmas activities – part of a Southbank Centre offering of over 300 free foyer events this year. Meanwhile, the Royal Festival Hall It has been another Two years on from the reopening of the hosted the Lost and Found Orchestra Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre is and the Queen Elizabeth Hall presented fantastic year for back at the heart of the UK’s cultural life. a new series of comedy. The season was Southbank Centre. In 2008/09, over 3 million people attended well received and achieved positive media Millions of visitors have our events, over 18 million used our new coverage with a PR value of £3.6 million. enjoyed concerts, squares, terraces and walkways, and over In April 2009, the hot ticket was the 3.5 million were served in our restaurants, return to London of conductor Gustavo performances and cafés and shops. Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Youth groundbreaking Excellence, diversity, in-depth engage- Orchestra of Venezuela for a week-long exhibitions as well as ment and participation are the hallmarks Residency. Two of the concerts, part of the the lively and welcoming of Southbank Centre’s artistic programme, Shell Classic International series, sold out 10 months in advance and the anticipa- environment around and this year was no exception. In 2008 we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the tion continued to build through the year. the site Hayward Gallery. The acclaimed Psycho As many people will know, we said Buildings inaugurated a special season of goodbye to Chief Executive Michael Lynch events that included a 40p day, sponsored in April 2009. Under Michael’s leader- by Bloomberg, which saw 2,700 visitors ship over the past seven years Southbank enjoy the exhibition for a fraction of the Centre has been radically transformed, usual ticket price. The Hayward continued with a renewed Royal Festival Hall at its to make its mark nationally as well as in heart and a world-class programme to the capital, with 15 critically acclaimed match. Michael’s tremendous contribution touring shows exhibiting in 74 venues, was justly rewarded with a CBE in the New including Grayson Perry’s Unpopular Year’s Honours List and the prestigious Culture curated from the Arts Council Arts & Business Garrett award. On behalf Collection and Mark Wallinger’s five-star of the Board and staff, I would like to give reviewed The Russian Linesman. Michael our thanks and very best wishes Southbank Centre’s Resident Orch- for his return to Australia. estras had another great season, and I now have the pleasure in welcoming continue to make a vital and highly valued Alan Bishop as Southbank Centre’s new contribution to our programme. The pres- Chief Executive. Fresh from the govern- ence of two hugely inspirational figures, ment’s Central Office of Information, and Vladimir Jurowski, Principal Conductor with an acute understanding of the needs of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, of creative thinkers and practitioners, he and the Philharmonia Orchestra’s newly has all the right skills to lead Southbank 3 CHAIRMan’S FOREWORD Centre over the coming years. Alan will be Despite the challenges, I am extremely working closely with Artistic Director Jude pleased to be able to report positive figures Kelly on the delivery of Southbank Centre’s for this year. In 2008/09 operating income ambition to be the world’s most inspiring exceeded £40 million for the first time. This, centre for the arts, as well as maximising coupled with prudent financial manage- the huge opportunities presented by the ment, has resulted in general reserves of 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain, £2.5 million, which will help us weather the key moment in Southbank Centre’s the year ahead and meet crucial ongoing genesis, and the Olympics in 2012. commitments. This past year saw the return of ‘busi- There are further positive signs, with ness as usual’ with our main focus on box office income holding up well and the day-to-day operation of Southbank the restaurants and cafés on site trading Centre as a leading cultural organisation strongly. Revenue from commercial activit- and visitor destination. In 2008 we also ies across the site rose by 27 per cent from Over 3 million peopleM attended undertook a strategic review of Southbank £4.4 million in 2007/08 to £5.6 million. 3our events in 2008/09 Centre to reflect on the purpose of the Southbank Centre is in a good position to organisation, consider its future direction, capitalise on people holidaying in the UK its vision and mission, and the resources and the increase in tourism from overseas. required to achieve them. I want to close my report with a reas- I have also streamlined Board proc- surance that Southbank Centre will esses and structures to ensure that we are continue to pursue the highest levels of in the best position to support Southbank innovation, excellence and meaningful Centre at this time. I would like to welcome engagement through these difficult eco- Susan Gilchrist, Brent Hansen and David nomic times. We are determined to con- Kershaw who have joined us, and my tinue to be bold and adventurous despite grateful thanks to those Governors who the temptation to play safe. The decision have left this year for their commitment to invite Ornette Coleman to host the 2009 during the critical refurbishment period. Meltdown is a case in point. This is what As I reported in last year’s Review, we are known for, and what people value Arts Council England’s additional invest- about us. ment of £16.5m of lottery funding in April 2008 was invaluable. It allowed us to sustain and build on the momentum of Revenue from commercial the Royal Festival Hall reopening period. activities across the It also facilitated the close-out of the site rose by 27% from Capital Campaign to within six per cent of budget and through transition funding £4.4 million in 2007/08 enabled effective management of the site to £5.6 million. Southbank in a holistic way, including animating the Centre is in a good position public spaces and utilising the potential to capitalise on people of a 62 per cent increase in footfall. holidaying in the UK and The current economic downturn has been our key concern in 2008/09 and the increase in tourism contingency planning has been an impor- from overseas tant focus for the Board and Executive. The fundraising imperative moved from capital to revenue income and there is little doubt that fundraising across the board has become more challenging dur- ing this period. The task now is to build on a superb platform. In this tough economic environment, individual, private and corpor- ate support in addition to public funding and earned income will be vital to our ongoing success. 4 ANNUAL REVIEW 08/09 VPO in Royal Festival Hall. Photo: Morely Von Sternberg Tomas Saraceno’s Observatory, Air-Port-City, Psycho Buildings, Hayward Gallery Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela with conductor Gustavo Dudamel (centre) © Luis Cobelo ANNUAL REVIEW 08/09 and determination turned into a reality Chief the dream of breathing new life into the Royal Festival Hall, uniting the site and Executive’s having a world-class programme fit for the stature of the place. It was that Report hard work combined with the unwa- Alan Bishop vering support of the Board that has established such a strong platform, full of possibilities, and that will enable the organisation to go from strength to strength. Following the refurbishment project, which continued to receive awards – notably the British Construction Industry Conservation Award – the time was right to reflect on the strategic direction of Southbank Centre and it has been a marvellous opportunity to work closely with Jude Kelly on the future direction of the organisation. This has resulted in an ambitious vision for the organisation It is a wonderful I know many people share my belief that to be the world’s most inspiring centre Southbank Centre is a special place, with for the arts. The mission makes explicit privilege for me to a unique heritage, and a warmth and Southbank Centre’s ability and ongoing be writing this, my sense of openness that can’t be matched, desire to draw everyone possible to its site first Report as Chief where local and global sit so comfort- through a unique arts programme and the Executive. I have been ably together and where an unexpected quality of the visitor experience.