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Southbank Centre celebrates 75th anniversary

Victoria CookBBC London
The Southbank Centre A large concrete-built building with the words "Southbank Centre" and "Queen Elizabeth Hall Purcell Room" on the side. There is a paved area in front with greenery to the side and a tower block in the distance.The Southbank Centre
The Southbank Centre has been referred to as "one of the best brutalist buildings in the world"

The Southbank Centre is marking the 75th anniversary of when it first opened its doors to the public for the Festival of Britain in 1951.

The arts complex originally started with just the Royal Festival Hall. It was constructed for the festival - a joyous celebration after years of war.

The site was later extended, and in 1967, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Hayward Gallery, Purcell Room and Queen Elizabeth Hall. In February the brutalist building was granted Grade II-listed status.

Today, the Southbank Centre is thought to be one of Europe's largest arts centres, with more than 11.6 million visitors a year. Currently, 55% of its programming is free.

'Vibrant energy'

To mark the 75th anniversary, the Southbank Centre is hosting a range of events, including "You Are Here" on Sunday, a one-day, site-wide takeover of theatre, music, art, fashion and dance from across the decades.

It is just one of the many events the complex hosts every year, with the aim to make the arts accessible to all.

"We believe that art and creativity should be a right, not a privilege," the Southbank said.

"We're committed to breaking down the barriers – whether financial, physical or social – that stop people from taking part," it added.

Mark Ball, artistic director of the Southbank Centre, said: "The Festival of Britain in 1951 was the moment after the war that the UK transformed from black and white into glorious technicolour.

"From day one, the Southbank Centre has continued in that spirit - offering a vibrant, optimistic, forward-looking energy."

Southbank Centre Michelle Obama is wearing a long white dress and sitting in a blue velvet-covered arm chair. She is holding a microphone, and opposite her is another woman, novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who is wearing a beige multi-patterned trouser suit and yellow high-heeled shoes. She is also sitting on a blue velvet-covered armchair. Between them is a black table with a vase of flowers on top and "Southbank Centre" printed in large white lettering on the front. There is also a logo of a penguin in an orange circle.Southbank Centre
US former First Lady Michelle Obama in conversation with Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Over the years, the site, which was voted "Britain's ugliest building" when it was extended in the 1960s, has hosted some of the biggest names and events in the world.

The composer and sitar player Ravi Shankar was among them. Shankar played at the Royal Festival Hall in October 1958 and continued a lifelong connection to the venue.

In 1960 it also hosted the Eurovision Song Contest - the balconies were used as commentary boxes.

Southbank Centre A black and white photo of the inside the Royal Festival Hall with different countries' names printed on the balconies above where an audience is sitting.Southbank Centre
The Eurovision Song Contest was held in the Royal Festival Hall in 1960, with the balconies used as commentary boxes

In 1972, singing superstar Elton John debuted his hit song "Rocket Man" during a concert at the Royal Festival Hall two months before its release.

There have been many more musicians to have appeared at the venue and artists too. In 2007, the celebrated sculptor Sir Anthony Gormley installed 30 life-size casts of his body on the rooftops of surrounding buildings as part of his Blind Light exhibition.

In 2018, former US First Lady Michelle Obama appeared on stage to discuss her memoir, Becoming, in conversation with Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

And in February, it was announced former One Direction star Harry Styles will curate this year's "landmark" Meltdown festival at the Southbank Centre.

Southbank Centre A statue of a man is on top of a large concrete building with a sign on the front that reads "Hayward Gallery".Southbank Centre
A sculpture of Sir Anthony Gormley's body was installed at the top of the Hayward Gallery

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan described the complex as a "cultural institution".

He said: "London is a global cultural capital, and for 75 years the Southbank Centre has been at the heart of this success.

"A much-loved cultural institution, it has showcased incredible talent, nurtured new creative voices, and entertained and inspired millions of audiences."

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