The Caird Hall Competitors

The Barbican is a multi-arts, learning, and conference centre in the City of London. We’re a catalyst for creativity, sparking possibilities for artists, audiences, and communities. We’re passionate about showcasing the most exciting art from around the world, pushing traditional artistic boundaries and helping us understand our lives in new and unexpected ways. Each year we present hundreds of different performances, events and exhibitions that entertain and inspire millions of people, create connections, provoke debate, and reflect the world we live in. Central to our purpose is supporting emerging talent, shaping opportunities that will accelerate the next generation of creatives. Opened in 1982, the Barbican is a unique and audacious building, recognised globally as an architectural icon. As well as our theatres, galleries, concert halls and cinemas, we are home to a large conservatory with over 1,500 species of plants and trees, a library, conference facilities, public and community spaces, restaurants, bars, and a picturesque lakeside oasis. Focussed firmly on the future, we’re working on ambitious plans to transform our building, reimaging what an arts centre can be and doing our part to address the climate crisis. Through our work on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, we will ensure the Barbican becomes a place where everyone belongs – where creativity, enterprise, and learning coexist, and everybody can achieve their fullest potential.

The Royal Academy of Music moves music forward by inspiring successive generations of musicians to connect, collaborate and create. We are the meeting point between the traditions of the past and the talent of the future, seeking out and supporting the musicians today whose music will move the world tomorrow. From pre-school to post-doc, our students come here from more than 50 countries. We challenge them to find their own voice, take risks and push boundaries. Simon Rattle, Felicity Lott, Elton John, Edward Gardner, Evelyn Glennie and Jacob Collier all learnt their craft here. We are excited to discover who’s next. Every student benefits from a stimulating curriculum and an ambitious range of concerts and events. Legendary artists come here not just to perform, but to become mentors, friends and musical partners. A world of music comes to us – and we send music back out into the world. As we embark on our third century, our aim is to shape the future of music by discovering and supporting talent wherever it exists. Music never stands still – and nor will we.

Hosting over 1,000 events each year, we offer world class music, inspiring arts experiences and entertainment for all ages. Over four decades, the National Concert Hall has become more than a venue. It has evolved into an institution of which the nation is rightly proud, an icon of our musical legacy and its contemporary artistic vitality and creativity. The National Concert Hall is a statutory body established under the National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Act 2015. Its functions are a) to provide and operate, having regard to international standards and good practice, the national venue for the performance, appreciation and enjoyment of musical, creative, artistic and cultural activities including the promotion of concerts and recitals of artistic, educational and cultural value, (b) in the public interest, to promote and support the performance, knowledge, appreciation, creation and enjoyment of music as an integral part of Irish life, (c) to entertain, educate and engage the public through musical experiences, and (d) to encourage and promote inclusivity, participation, creativity, experimentation and involvement in music through engagement with diverse individuals and communities as performers, participants, composers or audience members. Sitting proudly on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin’s city centre, our mission is to foster and celebrate the appreciation, knowledge, enjoyment and pure love of music as an integral part of Irish life. Visitors are inspired by the world class performances on our stages, and can equally experience and enjoy our iconic building through tours, early breakfast, afternoon tea or simply, quiet inspiration from walking through the picturesque Iveagh Gardens.