The Barbican Centre marked its unofficial 25th birthday with the unveiling of new public spaces following an eight-year revamp.

The City of London invested £30m in building a new front entrance and transformed foyer spaces to make the arts centre more welcoming to visitors.

The official 25th birthday celebrations however, will not take place until 3 March 2007. A gala concert by the London Symphony Orchestra – featuring Mitsuko Uchida and conducted by Sir Colin Davis – will celebrate the close partnership between the orchestra and its home at the Barbican over the last 25 years.

In addition, 25 landmark events celebrating 25 years of artistic development will take place throughout 2007.

The events will include series, festivals, commissions and co-productions, including Panic Attack! Art in the Punk Years, New Crowned Hope: A Festival by Peter Sellars and the London Children’s Film Festival.

A publication uncovering the life and history of the Barbican set within the context of the cultural and political climate of the times will also be published.

Artistic director Graham Sheffield said: “We are proud of our programme and our contribution to the arts in London and the UK. We are proud of our international profile, in commissioning and co-producing partnerships with arts centres, festivals, artists and companies across the world from the favelas of Rio to the Sydney Festival.

“Our unique configuration of spaces and art forms give us a rare fluidity, and the ability to combine and juxtapose artforms in fresh, unconventional and illuminating ways. This is our defining characteristic and one which will permeate the programme in our birthday year.” Details: www.barbican.org.uk