Royal West of England Academy
Analysis
Royal West of England Academy is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Bristol. It was registered in June 1998, 28 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03567088). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides advocacy/advice/information and acts as an umbrella or resource body.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Royal West of England Academy reported income of £2.2m and spending of £1.2m, leaving 44% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £1.6m to £2.2m (+43%), an average of +9.4% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 97%. Over the whole period it spent 52% 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, Royal West of England Academy sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Wordsworth Trust (£2.2m), The Chelsea Physic Garden Company (£2.2m) and The Sharpham Trust (£2.2m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 56%, charitable activities 37%, trading 5.4% and investments 1.3%. Charitable activities took 89% of spending and raising funds 9.9%. Reserves of £328k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 26 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 56%
- Charitable activities 37%
- Trading 5.4%
- Investments 1.3%
In the charity's own words
To use RWA's outstanding galleries to display world-class art of the past and present, including our Academicians, in exhibitions that are accessible and relevant to communities across the West of England, complimented by learning and outreach activities, both within and beyond our building, aimed at enhancing wellbeing through creativity, especially for those facing significant challenges.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Wordsworth Trust | Ambleside | £2.2m |
| The Chelsea Physic Garden Company | London | £2.2m |
| The Sharpham Trust | Totnes | £2.2m |
| The Public Catalogue Foundation | West Sussex | £2.2m |