The Barbican Centre Trust Limited

Analysis

The Barbican Centre Trust Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in May 1986, 40 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 01962950). It says it makes grants to organisations.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Barbican Centre Trust Limited reported income of £2.7m and spending of £1.8m, leaving 31% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £1.1m to £2.7m (+138%), an average of +24% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 100%. Over the whole period it spent 87% 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 Barbican Centre Trust Limited 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 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators (£2.7m), Play to the Crowd (£2.7m) and Rich Mix Cultural Foundation (£2.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 98%. Charitable activities took 88% of spending and raising funds 12%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.6m. Reserves of £1.2m would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate.