Turner Contemporary
Analysis
Turner Contemporary is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Kent. It was registered in June 2009, 17 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, 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 06772337). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Turner Contemporary reported income of £2.9m and spending of £2.8m, spending 94% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £2.8m to £2.9m (+5.4%), an average of +1.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 38%. Over the whole period it spent 97% 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, Turner Contemporary sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Tiber Community Building (£2.9m), Tall Stories Theatre Company Limited (£2.9m) and Lakeland Arts (£2.9m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 51%, trading 20%, donations and legacies 16% and investments 2.8%. Charitable activities took 74% of spending and raising funds 26%. Reserves of £511k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 80 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 16%
- Charitable activities 51%
- Trading 20%
- Investments 2.8%
- Other 11%
In the charity's own words
The principal objective of the company is the provision of a permanent gallery in Margate for the visual arts organisation which celebrates JMW Turner's association with Margate and, through a varied programme of exhibitions and events and learning activities, promotes an understanding and enjoyment of historical and contemporary art.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Tiber Community Building | Liverpool | £2.9m |
| Tall Stories Theatre Company Limited | London | £2.9m |
| Lakeland Arts | Cumbria | £2.9m |
| Longborough Festival Opera | Moreton-In-Marsh | £3.0m |