Arts at the Old Fire Station
Analysis
Arts at the Old Fire Station is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Oxford. It was registered in February 2011, 15 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 07371445). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.
In the financial year ending September 2025, Arts at the Old Fire Station reported income of £1.3m and spending of £1.3m, spending 101% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £761k to £1.3m (+72%), an average of +14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2022, when income rose by 43%. 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, Arts at the Old Fire Station sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 95th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Bishop's Stortford Museum and Arts CIO (£1.3m), Cockpit Arts (£1.3m) and Gasworks Dock Partnership (£1.3m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 65% and trading 34%. Charitable activities took 87% of spending and raising funds 13%. Reserves of £229k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 38 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 65%
- Charitable activities 0.5%
- Trading 34%
- Investments 0.9%
In the charity's own words
Arts at the Old Fire Station encourages people from all backgrounds to understand and shape the world in which we live through stories, creativity and the arts, and by connecting with others. We have a gallery, theatre, dance studio and Cafe. We support artists and include people facing disadvantage. We support services to evaluate their work using Story Telling Methodology.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop's Stortford Museum and Arts CIO | Hertfordshire | £1.3m |
| Cockpit Arts | London | £1.3m |
| Gasworks Dock Partnership | London | £1.3m |
| Colwinston Charitable Trust | London | £1.3m |