ABSTRACT
Crossing the thresholds of a cultural institution is a rite of passage for arts audiences. Foyers, entrances and lobbies are variously conceptualised as interfaces, barriers and transformative zones. However, an aspect that has been under-examined in literature is the mediation of audience experience through front-of-house staff and liminal spaces. Drawing on a novel ethnographic study of the Barbican Centre’s foyers seen through the eyes of its ‘hosts,’ this Short discusses their changing role in relation to the public. Acting as both a lens and a mirror, foyers highlight emerging dynamics in the relationship between public space, audiences and arts institutions.
