Arts and entertainment
Barclays is involved with various arts and entertainment sponsorships such as The London Mayor’s Thames Festival, Live Nation and the Mercury Music Prize.
The Thames Festival
One of Europe’s biggest city centre festivals attracting around three quarters of a million visitors is sponsored by Barclaycard. It features a remarkable programme of free entertainment on the south bank of the River Thames from Tower Bridge to Westminster, culminating in a stunning night-time carnival and spectacular firework display.
Live Nation
The partnership with Live Nation and Barclaycard incorporates an exclusive ticketing programme for customers and as well as developing cashless payment technology at some of the UK’s biggest summer music festivals, including Download, Wireless and Hard Rock Calling.
The Barclaycard Mercury Prize
An annual celebration recognising the UK Albums of the Year. Last year was one of the most successful ever, with Elbow winning the Prize for their album 'The Seldom Seen Kid'. Previous winners include Arctic Monkeys and Dizzee Rascal. Barclaycard’s sponsorship will see the introduction of more exciting new initiatives including the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Sessions - monthly live music events to be held at The Hospital Club in Covent Garden.
Barclaycard World Freerun Championships
Barclaycard has also extended its title sponsorship of the World Freerun Championships. This event brings together the awesome artistry of the world’s top athletes for a global celebration of this stunning and rapidly growing urban sport. The event in 2009 saw a purpose built structure erected in Trafalgar Square in London with an audience of more than 8,000 people. The event was broadcast live on the television channel BBC3 and has been performing well on BBC iPlayer ever since.
Lincoln Center
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and are pleased to be recognized with the Barclays Capital Grove, an extraordinary visual landmark in the heart of the Lincoln Center campus. Barclays Capital is delighted to be part of this beautiful cultural complex created for the enjoyment and education of New Yorkers and visitors from all over the world as well as for future generations of art enthusiasts.
Donmar Warehouse
Barclays Capital is the principal sponsor of the Donmar Warehouse. The Donmar is a 250-seat subsidised theatre located in the heart of London’s West End. Under the artistic leadership of Michael Grandage, the Donmar presents six productions a year and has a diverse artistic policy that includes new writing, contemporary re-appraising of European classics, British and American drama and musical theatre.
As well as the Donmar’s season at its Covent Garden home, it has recently undertaken a year-long West End residency at the Wyndham’s Theatre. This season was about offering high-quality drama at affordable prices.
The Donmar believes passionately in performing to an audience beyond its London home and undertakes a national tour once a year; in recent times, it has also presented productions in New York, Los Angeles and Buenos Aires. Barclays Capital has sponsored several Opening Nights of Broadway transfers, most recently Hamlet with Jude Law.
It has an enviable reputation for attracting some of the most highly regarded actors, directors, designers and writers. Actors in recent Donmar productions include Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Derek Jacobi, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Janet McTeer, Kelly Reilly, Simon Russell Beale, Michael Sheen, Samuel West and Penelope Wilton. Directors have included Rob Ashford, Peter Gill, Michael Grandage, Douglas Hodge, Jamie Lloyd, Katie Mitchell and Alan Rickman.
Since 1992, Donmar-generated productions have received 35 Olivier Awards, 20 Critics’ Circle Awards, 20 Evening Standard Awards and 13 Tony Awards for nine Broadway transfers.
