The Culture House

What The Culture House does

The Culture House is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO, charity number 1203001) founded in 2010 by Charlotte Bowen and based in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire. It is the sole Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) in its region and operates a portfolio of community-led cultural programmes including outdoor festivals (Everybody Loves the Sunshine, Festival of the Sea, Wonderful World), music programming (Picnic in the Park, Music Meet Ups), visual arts projects (Paint the Town Proud, Love Your Town), heritage and food community events (Edible Grimsby, Landmarks and Legends), and an intimate indoor venue called The Living Room (25 seats) in Cleethorpes. Its flagship multi-year initiative, Our Future Starts Here, is a five-year programme (now extended to 2030) bringing national touring artworks and installations alongside local artist commissions and community activities across North East Lincolnshire.

The organisation has no proprietary technology product; its distribution is entirely physical — events in parks, town squares, seafront spaces, schools and indoor venues — with ticketed events sold direct via the organisation's website and free programmes accessible without booking. Revenue is grant-led and diversified across Arts Council England NPO core funding, the National Lottery Community Fund (including two consecutive five-year awards totalling £2.85m for Our Future Starts Here), the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, Scops Arts Trust, UK Government/ERDF, Create NEL, and corporate sponsorship from Ørsted, RWE, A P Robinson, The Bradbury Foundation, Making A Difference Locally and Harrisons Ices. Ticket sales are explicitly described as supplemental and used to cover artist fees, staging and production costs rather than as a primary income stream.

The Culture House serves four primary audiences: North East Lincolnshire residents and visitors (free and ticketed events), local artists and creatives (paid performance opportunities, artist development workshops and co-production slots alongside national acts), children and young people (school residencies, Landmarks and Legends engaging 900+ young people, Green Influencers youth groups), and community organisations and schools (co-production partners such as East Marsh United, Creative Start, Unseen Arts, Birdhouse, Franklin College and Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe). Marketing relies on owned social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), a weekly blog launched September 2025, a mailing list via Mailchimp, earned media (BBC Look North, BBC Radio Humberside, The Guardian), and the 'In the House' video podcast series launched late 2025.

Name

The Culture House

Legal name

The Culture House CIO

Website

https://theculturehouse.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Culture House is a Grimsby-based UK charitable arts organisation that produces outdoor festivals, music events, visual arts projects and community workshops for North East Lincolnshire residents, operating as the region's sole Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and funded primarily by National Lottery and public arts grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts & Cultural Events

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage & Traditional Festivals (Folk, Ethnic, Indigenous) (MPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI), Educational & Youth Community Events (School/Youth Festivals) (MPAGAEAM), Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Neighborhood & Community Markets/Pop-Ups (Community-Led Bazaars) (MPAGAEAJ)

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Outdoor arts festivals
• Cultural events production
• Music festivals
• Public art installations

Headquarters

HQ city

Grimsby

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Arts Council England Funding: The Culture House is a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) of Arts Council England, receiving regular public funding as a core funded arts organisation.
2. Project-Specific Grants: Funding from multiple national and local bodies including the National Lottery Community Fund (£1.45m for Our Future Starts Here over 5 years), Heritage Lottery Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, Scops Arts Trust, UK Government/ERDF, and local sources including Create NEL and private-sector sponsors.
3. Ticket Sales: Some events charge admission (e.g., Everybody Loves the Sunshine festival at £25 adults), while many core programmes remain free to maximise accessibility. Ticketed events are a supplemental revenue stream used to cover artist fees, staging, and production costs.
4. Corporate Sponsorship: Local and national businesses (Ørsted, RWE, A P Robinson, Harrisons Ices, Ramsden International, The Bradbury Foundation, Making A Difference Locally) provide financial sponsorship and in-kind support for events such as Picnic in the Park.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Culture House produces and delivers community-led cultural festivals, music events, outdoor arts, visual arts projects, and heritage programmes across North East Lincolnshire, primarily serving Grimsby, Cleethorpes, and Immingham. Offerings include large-scale outdoor festivals (Everybody Loves the Sunshine, Festival of the Sea, Picnic in the Park), community food and family events (Edible Grimsby, Wonderful World), visual arts projects (Paint the Town Proud), artist development workshops (Music Meet Ups), and an intimate indoor venue (The Living Room). Most events are free; select ticketed events use tiered pricing to cover artist and production costs.

Product overview

The Culture House operates as a portfolio of distinct cultural programmes and projects rather than a unified software platform. The core offerings include large-scale outdoor festivals (Everybody Loves the Sunshine, Festival of the Sea, Wonderful World), community-focused initiatives (Edible Grimsby, Love Your Town), music programmes (Picnic in the Park, Music Meet Ups), visual arts projects (Paint the Town Proud), and an intimate indoor venue (The Living Room). The flagship five-year programme Our Future Starts Here serves as an umbrella initiative, bringing national touring artworks and installations alongside local artist commissions and community activities. All offerings are delivered as physical events and community projects with no software product or digital platform components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Living Room An intimate 25-seater indoor venue in Cleethorpes hosting live music, theatre, comedy, cabaret, and arts experiences, featuring local, regional and national talent with a coastal view.
• Our Future Starts Here A five-year transformational arts and culture programme (2022-2030) bringing major national touring artworks and installations to North East Lincolnshire, supporting local artist commissions and community activities, exploring environmental sustainability and regional identity.
• Edible Grimsby A community food festival with a 'grow, cook, share' theme, bringing together community groups to enjoy food they've grown and cooked, featuring live performances, food tastings, stalls and creative activities.
• Wonderful World A free one-day summer event hosted in People's Park featuring outdoor performance, nature workshops and participation activities for all ages, celebrating colour, joy and community connection.
• Picnic in the Park A free summer programme of weekly Sunday music events in People's Park's bandstand featuring national, regional and local live music, nature activities and family entertainment across August.
• Everybody Loves the Sunshine A ticketed music festival at Meridian Showground bringing jazz, funk, soul and diverse musical genres to Cleethorpes, featuring national artists alongside local DJs and performers.
• Paint the Town Proud A visual arts partnership project creating large-scale murals inspired by local heritage across North East Lincolnshire, providing opportunities for local artists alongside nationally renowned muralists.
• Festival of the Sea An outdoor arts festival highlighting Grimsby's maritime connection to the sea, showcasing local talent alongside national performers.
• Love Your Town A commissioned initiative enlivening local shopping streets with public art installations, including the temporary artwork 'LOVE IRL' by Stuart Langley, attracting visitors to Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham.
• Music Meet Ups Artist development workshops and networking sessions for musicians and music makers in North East Lincolnshire, hosted at The Living Room with guest speakers from Jazz North and other music development organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19,000 people engaged in culture and creativity through The Culture House's work in 2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Create North East LincolnshirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreate NEL is an arm of North East Lincolnshire Council and a channel through which Arts Council England funding is directed to the local creative sector. They co-fund and support multiple Culture House projects including Edible Grimsby and Picnic in the Park.
• Without WallscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithout Walls is a national outdoor arts network based in Manchester that has partnered with The Culture House on multiple projects. They serve as both a programming partner and mentor, helping to bring national-quality outdoor arts to North East Lincolnshire.
• Walk the PlankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalk the Plank (Salford-based) is a national outdoor arts company and long-standing mentor and partner of The Culture House. Co-produced Festival of the Sea and other major events. Described as having provided 'mentorship and coaching' over the years.
• Emergency Exit ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency Exit Arts (Kent-based) is a nationally-renowned arts organisation and long-term partner of The Culture House. Co-developed and delivered Edible Grimsby and provided ongoing mentorship. Described as one of the 'amazing national partners' without whom the journey would have been difficult.
• Outdoor Arts UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sector body for outdoor arts that The Culture House regularly works with as part of the wider UK outdoor arts ecosystem.
• Creative StartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts organisation that took full ownership of Paint the Town Proud after The Culture House co-initiated and developed the project with them. Creative Start is a key local delivery partner for visual arts projects.
• Unseen ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts organisation that partnered with The Culture House on Landmarks and Legends, a heritage project engaging 900 young people. Also partnered on Brick Futures as part of the Our Future Starts Here programme.
• BirdhouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren's arts organisation partnering with The Living Room to deliver immersive storytelling and family activity events.
• Green FuturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organisation partnered on Edible Grimsby 2024.
• The Canopy Community KitchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organisation based at Grant Thorold Park, partnered on Edible Grimsby 2024.
• Original Emporium Makers MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal makers market partnered on Edible Grimsby 2024.
• GreenInfluencers VANELminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal youth environmental group leading weekly Green Influencers groups and activities as part of the Our Future Starts Here five-year programme.
• Franklin Sixth Form CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal sixth-form college partnering on Our Future Starts Here, hosting an annual STEM conference with a green skills focus and connecting students to the programme.
• University of HullminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner in the Our Future Starts Here five-year programme, contributing to the partnership's academic and research dimensions.
• Hammond House ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal production company partnering on Our Future Starts Here to create immersive soundscapes on future-facing themes.
• Freestyle Academy CICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal creative organisation co-creating immersive soundscapes with Hammond House as part of Our Future Starts Here.
• Freedom Festival HullcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreedom Festival Hull partnered with The Culture House to deliver 'Freedom on Tour' in Cleethorpes in 2025, bringing four international outdoor arts companies to Meridian Craft Units. Also partnered for Picnic in the Park 2026 finale.
• Jazz NorthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic development organisation partnering with The Culture House to bring jazz and experimental/folk artists (Kindelan, Alice Kim) to The Living Room, as well as delivering artist development workshops for emerging musicians.
• Illuminated Films / Children's ITVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm company that co-produced 'Where Do All The Boats Go?' animation with Clee Academy students as part of Festival of the Sea.
• Hemingway Design (London)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational design studio that has partnered with The Culture House on projects, providing design expertise and creative direction.
• Grub FestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food and creativity festival that The Culture House supports by programming street performers, attracting at least 1,000 people to Cleethorpes.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@theculturehouse1371/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/theculturehouseGY
• Instagraminstagram.com/theculturehousegy
• Xx.com/theculturehouse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Culture House