The Museums Association
Analysis
The Museums Association is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in November 1962, 64 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00252131). It says it provides advocacy/advice/information and acts as an umbrella or resource body.
In the financial year ending March 2025, The Museums Association reported income of £2.2m and spending of £2.3m, spending 107% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £2.4m to £2.2m (-9.4%), an average of -2.4% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 38%. Over the whole period it spent 99% 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 Museums Association 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 Historic Chapels Trust (£2.2m), Saffron Music Trust (£2.2m) and Punchdrunk Enrichment Limited (£2.1m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 74%, donations and legacies 13% and investments 11%. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £143k. Reserves of £416k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 21 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 13%
- Charitable activities 74%
- Investments 11%
- Other 2.9%
In the charity's own words
To advance education in, and to foster and encourage the preservation and better understanding of the material heritage of mankind and the environment for the public benefit by the promotion and development of museums and galleries and encouraging the involvementof the public. To establish and advance professional standards of those employed in museums and galleries.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Historic Chapels Trust | Cambridge | £2.2m |
| Saffron Music Trust | Saffron Walden | £2.2m |
| Punchdrunk Enrichment Limited | Middlesex | £2.1m |
| Marina Theatre Trust | Lowestoft | £2.2m |