The Public Catalogue Foundation
Analysis
The Public Catalogue Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in West Sussex. It was registered in February 2003, 23 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04573564). It says it provides services.
In the financial year ending March 2025, The Public Catalogue Foundation reported income of £2.2m and spending of £2.2m, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £2.0m to £2.2m (+12%), an average of +2.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 27%. Over the whole period it spent 95% 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 Public Catalogue Foundation 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 Chelsea Physic Garden Company (£2.2m), Hestercombe Gardens Trust Limited (£2.3m) and Royal West of England Academy (£2.2m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 81%, charitable activities 9.9% and trading 8.8%. Charitable activities took 93% of spending and raising funds 7.0%. It employed 41 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 81%
- Charitable activities 9.9%
- Trading 8.8%
- Investments 0.5%
In the charity's own words
Art UK is a cultural education charity on a mission to make the art in UK public collections accessible to everyone, for enjoyment, learning and research. We enable global audiences to learn about the nation's art collection by digitising artworks, telling the stories behind the art and creating exciting opportunities for public interaction with art, both online and offline.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Chelsea Physic Garden Company | London | £2.2m |
| Hestercombe Gardens Trust Limited | Bristol | £2.3m |
| Royal West of England Academy | Bristol | £2.2m |
| Rifco Arts | Hatters Ln, Watford | £2.3m |