What Live Art Development Agency does

Live Art Development Agency (LADA) is a London-based charitable organisation (Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered Charity No. 1079943) founded in 1999 to develop the research, practice, and infrastructure of Live Art in the UK and internationally. LADA operates from The Garrett Centre, a former Unitarian mission in Bethnal Green, East London, where it houses the Study Room — the world's largest collection of research materials on Live Art, comprising books, DVDs, videotapes, magazines, journals, digital files, and themed Special Collections (Adrian Howells Collection, Library of Performing Rights, Art of Change Digital Archive, Neil Bartlett Collection). The Study Room is offered free of charge to individuals and groups and is supported by a searchable online catalogue, a Video Channel on Vimeo, an Audio Channel on SoundCloud, and Study Room Guides.

LADA's core products and services are organised around four interconnected pillars: (1) the Study Room and its Special Collections as a free research facility; (2) the Live Art Bookshop (previously branded Unbound), a curated retail and publishing initiative whose profits are 100% reinvested into LADA programmes; (3) a Publishing programme producing books, DVDs and limited editions with partners such as Intellect Books and Oberon Books; and (4) Live Art UK, a national network of 30+ venues, festivals, and facilitators coordinated by LADA. Adjacent programmes include DIY (artist-led workshops), Do It Together (collaborative development), Artists in Residence, Thinkers in Residence, the Desk Scheme, LADA Screens (a documentation screening programme), and the Study Room Restock fundraising campaign. Patrons include Marina Abramovic and Tim Etchells.

The business model is a non-profit funding stack anchored by core operational grant funding as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) from Arts Council England, supplemented by charitable donations (single, recurring, and legacy via the Charities Aid Foundation portal), Easyfundraising affiliate income (15% of eligible online shopping at participating retailers), and Live Art Bookshop retail proceeds, all of which are reinvested into programmes. GTM is community-led and event-driven: monthly Mailchimp newsletters, an organic social presence on Instagram/Facebook/Vimeo/X, public events and screenings at the Garrett Centre, and the Live Art UK network. Customer segments span artists and practitioners, researchers and academics, curators and arts professionals, and the general public; the Study Room is free, programmes are largely free or subsidised, and the bookshop is mission-aligned rather than profit-maximising. The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees (currently co-chaired by Cat Sheridan as of 2026), with Sally Rose appointed Deputy Director in 2026, and has 1–10 staff.

Name

Live Art Development Agency

Legal name

Live Art Development Agency

Website

https://thisisliveart.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LADA is a London-based charity founded in 1999 that develops Live Art research, practice, and infrastructure. It runs the world's largest Live Art research collection (Study Room), a publishing arm and bookshop, professional development programmes for artists, and the Live Art UK national network of 30+ venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Development Services

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD)

Keywords

• Artist development
• Performance art research
• Live art archive
• Arts publishing
• Artist residencies

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Arts Council England Funding: LADA is funded as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) by Arts Council England, providing core operational funding
2. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations accepted via CAF online portal, text-to-donate (LADA to 70580), and legacy giving programme. Donations support Live Art Research Collection, practitioner-led projects and audience engagement programmes
3. Live Art Bookshop Sales: Online and physical retail selling hard-to-find publications, media and limited editions. LADA invests 100% of profits into future programmes supporting artists and thinkers
4. Easyfundraising: LADA receives 15% of eligible online shopping when supporters sign up and shop at major retailers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LADA is a London-based charitable development agency that supports Live Art through a freely accessible Study Room housing the world's largest collection of Live Art research materials, a Publishing programme producing books, DVDs, and limited editions, the Live Art Bookshop retail initiative, and a suite of artist development programmes including DIY workshops, residencies, the Desk Scheme, and peer-to-peer collaborative projects. It also coordinates the Live Art UK national network of 30+ venues, festivals, and facilitators.

Product overview

Live Art Development Agency (LADA) is a London-based charitable organisation dedicated to the development of Live Art research, practice, and infrastructure. Rather than a single software product, LADA operates as a suite of interconnected programmes and services centred around the Study Room (their core free research facility housing the world's largest Live Art collection), Live Art Bookshop (their retail/publishing arm previously called Unbound), Publishing programme (producing books, DVDs, and editions), and Live Art UK (their national network). These are supported by professional development offerings including DIY workshops (artist-led training), Do It Together projects, Artists in Residence programme, Desk Scheme, LADA Screens, Thinkers in Residence, and online resources through Video and Audio Channels. The Garrett Centre serves as their physical home. The Study Room and Live Art Bookshop form the primary touchpoints for artists and researchers engaging with LADA's resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Live Art Bookshop: Live Art Bookshop is a retail and publishing initiative that specializes in distributing publications on interdisciplinary live and performance practices. Previously known as Unbound.
• Live Art UK

Products and services

• Study Room A freely accessible research facility housing the world's largest collection of Live Art research materials — books, DVDs, videotapes, magazines, journals, digital files, and special collections — available for in-person visits by artists, researchers, students and the general public at the Garrett Centre in Bethnal Green, London.
• Live Art Bookshop
• Publishing A programme producing books, DVDs, and limited editions on Live Art and performance practices, including monographs on artists such as Ron Athey, Raimund Hoghe, Tim Etchells, Adrian Howells and David Hoyle, as well as themed publications and anthologies co-published with partners such as Intellect Books and Oberon Books.
• DIY (Do It Yourself) A professional development programme for artists and practitioners delivered through artist-led workshops featuring peer-to-peer exchange, collaborative research, and process-led experimentation across various disciplines.
• Do It Together A practitioner-led project creating opportunities for collaborative development and peer-to-peer support within the Live Art community, run as an annual programme.
• Artists in Residence A residency programme supporting artists to develop peer-to-peer artist networks, including support for developing networks and development groups, with mentoring from the LADA Director. 2025 cohort jointly delivered with The Ampersand Foundation.
• Desk Scheme A subsidised desk scheme for artists, producers, curators, researchers, and writers providing workspace access at the Garrett Centre.
• LADA Screens A screening programme of seminal performance documentation, works for camera, short films, video, and archival footage presented at the Garrett Centre.
• Live Art UK A national network of 30+ venues, festivals, and facilitators concerned with the development of the Live Art sector across the UK, coordinated by LADA to create new models for promotion, increase visibility, and provide a representative voice for the sector.
• Thinkers in Residence A scheme bringing thinkers to engage with LADA's resources and develop new work in residence.
• Stock Check A peer-to-peer development group for artists working within Live Art and interdisciplinary performance practice, led by Artist in Residence Claudia Palazzo, offering a warm environment for testing and sharing work with a small community of peers.
• Live Art and Gaming Network A peer-to-peer artist network developed through the Artists in Residence programme, exploring the intersection of Live Art and gaming practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free access to world-leading Live Art collection maintained for equitable access
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration12 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• East End Trades GuildminorOthersCommunity organization of small independent businesses in the East End. LADA is a member, contributing to local community spaces and relationships
• Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCAF provides the donation platform enabling LADA to receive single and recurring donations online
• The Ampersand FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Artist in Residence programme. LADA and The Ampersand Foundation jointly welcome artists as residents, providing support and development opportunities
• Creativeworks LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded Creative Voucher to support collaboration with Lois Weaver of Queen Mary University London for Live Art and Feminism archive research
• Performance Matters (Goldsmiths, University of London, University of Roehampton)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration producing and publishing the Crossovers DVD series, funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council. Joint development of digital resources on performance and Live Art
• Live Art BookshopcoreOthersAn initiative coordinated by LADA - an online and physical shop dedicated to Live Art, performance and interdisciplinary art practice. Previously known as Unbound
• Live Art UK (LAUK)coreOthersNational network of venues, festivals and facilitators coordinated by LADA. Network works together on promotion, sustainability strategies, and representing Live Art sector
• Intellect BookscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishing partnership for Live Art books including Intellect Live series and co-publishing titles on artists like Tim Etchells and Raimund Hoghe
• Oberon BookscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishing partnership for Live Art titles including Programme Notes
• British CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided support for Access All Areas: Live Art and Disability NYC edition event
• The Garrett CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for LADA's offices and Study Room. A former Unitarian mission now hosting arts, ethical and community-focused groups. Shares values around equality, feminism, displacement and research
• Queen Mary University of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Post-Study programme supporting next generation of Live Art practitioners. Also partnered on Library of Performing Rights and other research initiatives

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• In Between Time: Bristol-based producing organisation dedicated to commissioning and presenting international Live Art and experimental performance. Closest UK counterpart to LADA's mission of developing and supporting Live Art practice.
• Fierce Festival: Birmingham-based biennial Live Art festival with a year-round programme presenting experimental performance by UK and international artists. Operates in the same Live Art development and presentation space as LADA.
• Chisenhale Dance Space: East London artist-led space supporting experimental performance, choreography, and Live Art through commissions, residencies, and public programmes. Comparable London-based peer focused on independent performance development.
• Artsadmin: London-based producing and development organisation supporting experimental performance makers. Operates a comparable artist-development model through residencies, advice, and touring support for independent performance artists.
• Siobhan Davies Dance: London-based artist-led organisation supporting experimental choreography and performance. Comparable in operating a research-focused, artist-led model with archive, residency, and public programme elements.
• Duckie: London performance art collective producing regular queer Live Art events, club nights, and interventions. Comparable as a small Live Art producer operating in the same cultural milieu as LADA.
• New Work Network: UK-wide development agency for independent dance and performance makers. Directly comparable in providing professional development, advocacy, and sector support for independent performance artists.

Broad incumbents

• South London Gallery: London contemporary art gallery commissioning artists and running education and public programmes. Overlaps with LADA in supporting contemporary artists and curating exhibitions, but with a broader visual arts focus rather than Live Art specialism.
• Battersea Arts Centre: Major London arts centre with established new-work and artist development programmes across theatre, Live Art, and performance. Overlaps with LADA's mission but operates at much larger institutional scale and broader programming scope.

Regional players

• Performance Studies international (PSi): International academic organisation dedicated to performance studies research, with affiliated conferences and publications. Comparable as a research-anchored peer serving the global Live Art and performance studies community, though primarily academic in nature.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thisisliveart
• YouTubevimeo.com/thisisliveart
• Facebookfacebook.com/thisisliveart
• Instagraminstagram.com/thisisliveart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Live Art Development Agency