The Arts Council of England

Analysis

The Arts Council of England is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Manchester. It was registered in April 1994, 32 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Arts Council of England reported income of £843.1m and spending of £731.1m, spending 87% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £1.49bn to £843.1m (-43%), an average of -13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income dropped by 37%. Over the whole period it spent 100% 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 Arts Council of England sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Canal & River Trust (£232.6m), University of Wales:trinity Saint David (£209.8m) and Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation (£182.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 69% and investments 1.4%. Charitable activities took 61% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £261.3m. It employed 704 people.