What Venture Arts does

Venture Arts is a Registered Charity (number 1176385) and Company Limited by Guarantee (number 10823617) operating a visual arts studio from Hulme, Manchester (43 Old Birley Street, M15 5RF). Founded in 1992, the organization works with learning disabled and neurodivergent artists to develop ambitious contemporary practices, exhibit work in partner galleries and cultural institutions, and build careers in the arts. Core programmatic activity includes providing studio access, materials, mentoring, and brokering exhibition and commission opportunities. The studio supports around fifteen or more named artists in its regular roster and has placed work in significant collections including the Government Art Collection (acquisition of Leslie Thompson's 'Animals from Memory' in 2021 and a 2023 coronation commission).

Revenue is generated through a hybrid charity model combining commercial activity and grant funding. Commercial streams include original artwork sales (£150 per piece), limited edition models (£25), zines (£6), prints and reproductions, and bespoke commissions arranged via the studio (coordinated by Katherine Long). Charitable income comprises donations (text-to-donate at £3/£5/£10 and online) and grant funding from a diversified base including Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, National Lottery Community Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, Henry Smith Foundation, and Irwin Mitchell Foundation. Distribution channels include a direct e-commerce shop on venturearts.org, exhibition sales through partner venues (HOME Manchester, Castlefield Gallery, The Lowry, Blackburn Cathedral, Nottingham Castle, TJ Boulting London, Paper Gallery Manchester), and direct studio commissions.

Marketing and community engagement are community-led: exhibitions and events drive awareness, supported by an owned website/blog, organic social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn), an email newsletter distributed via Mailchimp, and donation appeals. The organization holds Disability Confident employer status. Headcount is reported as 11-50 employees. The technology footprint is conventional (no proprietary platform, app, API, SDK, or AI tooling), with activity focused on traditional visual art media including painting, illustration, ceramics, photography, printmaking, textiles, and mixed media.

Name

Venture Arts

Legal name

Venture Arts

Website

https://venturearts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Venture Arts is a Manchester-based visual arts charity and studio supporting learning disabled and neurodivergent artists to develop contemporary practices, exhibit work, and build careers, funded through grants, donations, and sales of original artwork, limited editions, and zines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Visual Arts Studio

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD)

Keywords

• Inclusive visual arts
• Disability arts studio
• Artist development services
• Community arts charity
• Neurodivergent artists

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Artwork and merchandise sales: The organization generates revenue through selling artwork created by their artists, including original pieces, limited edition prints, zines, and merchandise. Products are sold through their e-commerce shop on the website with various price points for different types of work.
2. Commissions: Venture Arts accepts commissions for artwork, which can be either group projects or individual artist commissions. Contact information is provided for commission inquiries.
3. Donations: The organization accepts donations via text message with specific shortcodes (£3, £5, £10 donation options) and traditional online donation methods through their website.
4. Charitable funding and grants: Venture Arts receives support from Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, National Lottery Community Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, Henry Smith Foundation, Irwin Mitchell Foundation, and other charitable funders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Venture Arts operates a Manchester-based visual arts studio that supports learning disabled and neurodivergent artists in developing ambitious contemporary creative practices and building careers in the arts. The organization sells original artwork, curated artist collections, limited edition models, zines, prints, and screen prints through its online shop, and accepts commissioned artwork projects arranged via studio staff. Revenue is supplemented by donations and grants from charitable funders.

Product overview

Venture Arts operates as a visual arts studio offering a portfolio of art products and services centered on work by learning disabled and neurodivergent artists. The core offerings include Original Artwork (one-off paintings, drawings, ceramics, and mixed media), Artist Collections (curated groupings by individual artists such as Leslie Thompson, Michael Beard, and Emelia Hewitt), Limited Edition Models (handcrafted action figures designed by artists), Zines (self-published photography and illustration publications), Prints and Reproductions (A3/A5 prints and screen prints), and Commission services for custom artwork. Products are sold through the online shop and the organization maintains studio space for artist development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Original Artwork One-off original artworks created by Venture Arts studio artists, including paintings, drawings, ceramics, and mixed media pieces available for purchase through the online shop.
• Artist Collections Curated collections of artwork organised by individual artist, including The Leslie Thompson Collection, The Michael Beard Collection, The Ahmed Mohammed Collection, The Andrew Johnstone Collection, The Horace Lindezey Collection, The Michael Nash Collection, The Emelia Hewitt Collection, The Barry Finan Collection, and The Armaghan Butt Collection.
• Limited Edition Models Handcrafted limited edition action figures and models designed by artists such as Leslie Thompson, presented in collectible packaging with detailed cartoon backing boards, priced at £25.00 each.
• Zines Self-published zines and small-run publications created by Venture Arts artists, featuring photography, illustration, and collaborative projects, priced at £6.00 per A5 full colour photography zine.
• The Sentinels Zine An A5 full colour photography zine by James Desser and Jeffrey Knopf exploring contemporary space-age worlds via model design and 3D print, part of the Co-Lab series funded by ArtFund.
• Prints and Reproductions A3 and A5 prints, screen prints, and stencil prints by Venture Arts artists available for purchase through the website shop.
• Commissions Custom commission work from individual artists or as group projects, arranged through studio visits with Katherine Long, including commissions for organisations such as the Government Art Collection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 Venture Arts artists selected for Manchester Open 2024 out of 480 total artworks
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Castlefield GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCastlefield Gallery is a key exhibition partner hosting Venture Arts artists in group exhibitions including 'Out Here' featuring Emelia Hewitt and 'Cover The Walls'. The organizations have an ongoing collaborative relationship.
• HOME ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOME Manchester is a major exhibition partner hosting the Manchester Open where multiple Venture Arts artists are regularly selected to exhibit. The organization also supported James Desser's Future 20 Collective membership.
• The LowrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lowry in Salford has hosted Venture Arts exhibitions including 'The Art of Nature' studio show and Leslie Thompson's work in 2023.
• Disability ConfidentminorOthersVenture Arts holds Disability Confident employer status, demonstrating commitment to employing and supporting disabled people.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Project Ability: Glasgow-based visual arts organization supporting learning disabled and neurodivergent artists through studio programmes, exhibitions, and sales — structurally the closest peer to Venture Arts in mission, model, and UK geography.
• Outside In: UK-wide charity that supports artists facing barriers including learning disability and neurodivergence, providing exhibition, training, and marketplace platforms — directly comparable mission and artist-development model.
• Mind the Gap: Bradford-based performing and visual arts company working with learning disabled artists, producing professional theatre, exhibitions, and training — closely comparable inclusive-arts charity model in the UK.
• The Art House: Wakefield-based charity providing studio space, exhibitions, and artist development for artists with complex needs including learning disability — overlapping studio-based inclusive-arts model with comparable UK charity structure.
• Bow Arts: London-based artist studio provider and charity running affordable studios, exhibitions, and learning programmes — comparable UK arts-charity operating model though with broader (not exclusively disability-focused) mission.

Broad incumbents

• ARC Stockton Arts Centre: Established North East England arts centre providing studio space, exhibitions, and community programmes — a broader incumbent that competes for similar Arts Council and lottery funding and gallery partnerships.
• Castlefield Gallery: Manchester contemporary art gallery that already partners with Venture Arts on exhibitions like 'Out Here'; serves as a wider commercial gallery in the same regional ecosystem and shares the same artist pipeline.
• HOME Manchester: Major Manchester arts venue hosting Manchester Open where Venture Arts artists exhibit — a broader regional incumbent that both partners with and competes for local arts funding and audiences.

Emerging players

• Studio Upstairs: London-based charity providing inclusive open-access studio practice for adults facing mental health challenges — overlapping community-arts studio model with a related (but different) beneficiary cohort.

Others

• Creative Scotland (Inclusive Arts): Scottish public-sector arts funder and policy body that supports inclusive-arts organizations analogous to Arts Council England; a comparable funder/ecosystem participant rather than a direct operating peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/venturearts
• Facebookfacebook.com/VentureArtsManchester
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/venturearts_/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Venture Arts