Barclays PLC is to become the largest ever business sponsor of the Royal National Theatre and sole sponsor of three major exhibitions at The British Museum, the National Gallery and Tate Britain.
The £1.9m sponsorship package, branded ?Invest and Inspire?, will run for two years and is based on three principles: increasing accessibility to the arts, educational activities to involve first time attenders, and collaboration between arts organisations to encourage the sharing of resources. Under the banner of ?Barclays Firsts?, an educational programme is being developed which aims to attract over 10,000 first time visitors, school children and students.
The Barclays sponsorship begins next month, supporting the new Olivier Season with an investment worth £1m. The year long season in the Olivier Theatre will encompass five productions ? the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical South Pacific, directed by Trevor Nunn; Bacchai by Euripides, in a new version by Colin Teevan directed by Peter Hall; and a new trilogy by Tom Stoppard, directed by Trevor Nunn. The programme of sponsorship will continue with an exhibition on the Queen of Sheba at The British Museum from June to October 2002; a Titian exhibition at the National Gallery, Spring 2003; and a Turner and Venice exhibition at Tate Britain from October 2003 to January 2004.
Barclays is no stranger to arts sponsorship, and continues to support regional touring theatre through its Stage Partners scheme. It is also involved in local arts projects which encourage local communities to access the arts, such as a project with Hijinx Theatre in Wales to produce specific productions for adults with learning difficulties, and the ?Access Works? initiative with Unicorn Theatre, which enables children from some of the most deprived boroughs in London to experience theatre.
Matthew Barrett, Chief Executive of Barclays PLC said: ?This two year sponsorship is intended to support leading UK arts institutions and break down some of the barriers to the arts, opening it up to new audiences. Through this £1.9m investment we want to increase accessibility to the arts to wider communities, not least our own employees. We hope to establish this sponsorship as a model for business investment in the arts and set a first rate example of the benefits of imaginative and innovative sponsorship. We will be branding this sponsorship ?Invest and Inspire?, since our aim is that by investing in the arts today and increasing access for all, we can inspire those who will be leading the arts tomorrow.?