The Cerne Abbas Music Festival
Analysis
The Cerne Abbas Music Festival is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Dorchester. It was registered in January 1992, 34 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it acts as an umbrella or resource body.
In the financial year ending December 2025, The Cerne Abbas Music Festival reported income of £21k and spending of £19k, spending 89% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £18k to £21k (+17%), an average of +4.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 105%. Over the whole period it spent 106% of the income it received.
Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Cerne Abbas Music Festival sits at the 51st percentile: it is larger than about 51% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 46th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Aylesbury Vale u3a (£21k), The Oaksey Village Hall (£21k) and The Fishpond Choir (£21k).
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
To present an annual Festival of Chamber Music in the Village of Cerne Abbas, Dorset. The concerts are given by artists of International standing and contain works spanning three centuries. The programmes are designed to be both challenging and entertaining and contain many lesser known works. The Festival is a major musical attractions in the area and has capacity audiences for its concerts.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Aylesbury Vale u3a | Buckinghamshire | £21k |
| The Oaksey Village Hall | Wiltshire | £21k |
| The Fishpond Choir | Bakewell | £21k |
| Silk Brass Band | Macclesfield | £21k |