Our impact
With your support we’re fostering creativity and changing people’s lives for the better
The Southbank Centre is more than just an arts venue, we’re an engine of creativity where culture is made and artists thrive.
As we look ahead to our 75th anniversary, we’re channelling the founding spirit of the 1951 Festival of Britain – a moment of national renewal and optimistic, forward-looking energy.
And so we’re putting the next generation of creatives at the forefront of what we do, ensuring our future is built upon thriving, inclusive talents that will shape the cultural landscape for years to come.
Download our Impact Report 2025
Highlights
of a year in the life of the Southbank Centre
11,672,984visitors spent more than 30 minutes with us
8,695
artists performed on our stages
738,043tickets sold
6,860school pupils worked with
374,701tickets were sold for under £25
24towns and cities visited across the UK
All data from the 2025 calendar year.
A democratic space without barriers
We believe that art and creativity should be a right, not a privilege.
We’re committed to breaking down the barriers – whether financial, physical or social – that stop people from taking part.
55%of our events were free in 2025
4,295people attended our free futuretense gigs
458tickets booked specifically for Hayward Gallery Relaxed Hours
18%of our audiences are of the Global Majority or from ethnically diverse backgrounds*
Open Doors
Open Doors is our year-round series of free creative events, offering activities, workshops, performances and family fun to inspire everyone.
(*figure taken from our 2024/25 annual report)
Strengthening our local ties
We believe our site belongs to those who live nearby; we should be an everyday resource where anyone can feel at home.
We’re actively working with local groups that make life better in Lambeth and Southwark to make sure our venues are a place for local voices and real connection.
23%of visitors to Rug Rhymes at the National Poetry Library live in Lambeth and Southwark
1,079free tickets given specifically to local groups
50local community groups visited Hayward Gallery exhibitions
Steven Okeya
Steven Okeya is our Community Connector. His job is to build strong links with our neighbours. Instead of waiting for people to come to us, we go to them. This helps break down the barriers that might stop local people from visiting.
A home for the next generation
We’re putting young voices at the heart of what we do.
We want every young person to feel like they have a place here with us, and through our work with schools and programmes such as our Youth Collective and Under-30s scheme, we’re not just inviting them to visit, we’re giving them the skills to lead.
328schools worked with us
1,300sign-ups to our new Under-30s scheme
382young people aged 11 – 14 took part in Reframe: Inspire Schools
Reframe: Inspire Schools
Helping students discover the arts and digital technology, and putting creative careers in their sights, in partnership with Apple.
Our impact beyond the South Bank
We believe that everyone in the UK should have access to world-class art, no matter where they live.
In 2025 we reached far beyond the banks of the Thames as our Hayward Gallery Touring programme shared major exhibitions that helped support local economies and cultural life.
300,465
visitors to our touring exhibitions outside London
23
towns and cities across the UK hosted Hayward Gallery Touring exhibitions
87.5%
of our 2 million YouTube views came from beyond the UK
‘The partnership with Hayward Gallery Touring made arts and culture visible in the city in a way it never had been before.’
Marguerite Nugent, Cultural Director, Culture Coventry
Supporting creative talent
The arts centre of the future must help the next generation of creative professionals get their start.
Through programmes like our Technical Academy and Southbank Centre Presents, we’re providing the tools, training and networks that new talent needs to succeed in every corner of the creative industry.
83%
of our 2025 Technical Academy graduates have already found paid work, professional experience or further study in technical production settings
68%
of our technical Academy participants identify as part of the Global Ethnic Majority
484
people aged 21 – 32 applied to be a part of Southbank Centre Presents
Technical Academy
Giving people from under-represented communities the opportunity to gain experience working behind the scenes in theatre and live events.
Making our site and work greener
We recognise the urgency of climate crisis and the role we can play in fighting it.
We’re committed to becoming a net zero organisation, and in 2025 we’ve updated our targets to make sure every step we take is a meaningful one toward a net-zero future.
63%reduction in carbon emissions from our buildings since 2014
48%
reduction in water use compared to 2022/23
35bird species found around the Southbank Centre
Environmental Sustainability
See the steps we’ve been taking, and continue to take, on our journey to net zero.
Committed to young people’s mental health
As research continues to show that culture and creativity are good for our wellbeing, we’ve developed projects that provide comfort and connection, with a focus on young people in south-east London.
Creative Community Wellbeing Scale
We teamed up with Kinetika Bloco and Brunel University London to develop and pilot the Creative Community Wellbeing Scale, a means of showing how much creativity improves health. Tested during our 2025 summer schools, the tool is set to be rolled out in 2026.
Creative Waiting
Developed with young people who have faced mental health challenges, Creative Waiting is a transformative 12-week programme of creative activities to support young people age 15 – 18 waiting for ADHD assessments. We hope to deliver the first phase of this project in south-east London in 2026.
Support our work
Without the support of generous individuals and organisations, our work would not be possible. Thank you for the contributions which enable us to continue.
But we could always do more – if you’d like to help, we’d love to hear from you.
Annual reviews & accounts
For information about, and access to, earlier reports, please get in touch.
Work with us
Be a part of what we do. Discover your perfect role in our engine of creativity.
Who we are
We’re nothing without our people. Here are some of those who drive all that we do.
How we work
The values we hold dearest at the Southbank Centre are best encapsulated in our colleagues.