What Artsadmin does

Artsadmin is a UK-registered charity (no. 1044645) founded in 1979 that supports artists working in contemporary performance and live art at all career stages, from recent graduates to established practitioners. The organization operates from Toynbee Studios at 28 Commercial Street, East London, which serves simultaneously as headquarters, performance venue, and primary revenue-generating venue asset. Its core operating portfolio comprises three interlocking lines: (1) artist development services including one-to-one Creative Support (advisory sessions booked via Calendly), structured workshops such as Homework Club and Morning Creatives, the weekly Artsadmin Anchor newsletter, and intensive programmes such as the upcoming IMMERSION LAB (June 2026); (2) time-bounded flagship schemes including the Artists' Bursary Scheme (1998-2021, over 200 artists supported) and the BANNER graduate programme (since 2014) in partnership with Goldsmiths University of London and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; and (3) production and touring of artist projects, exemplified by long-running producing partnerships such as Station House Opera's Dominoes, which has toured to 20+ cities internationally.

Underlying technology is intentionally lightweight: Artsadmin is not a technology company and uses third-party tools only — Spektrix for ticketing and donations, Calendly for advisory scheduling, and a standard CMS-driven website. There is no proprietary platform, no software product, and no AI/ML capability in evidence. The "platform" is therefore the curated programme stack and the Toynbee Studios physical venue rather than a software stack.

Artsadmin's business model is a hybrid typical of UK mid-sized arts charities: regular core funding from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organization (the dominant anchor), project-specific grants (including a £33,966 Culture Recovery Fund Capital Kickstart grant in December 2020), individual donations via CAF and Easyfundraising, ticketed event revenue, and earned income from Toynbee Studios space hire (rehearsal rooms, meeting rooms, theatre, café). Most artist-facing services are free, with the exception of the new IMMERSION LAB at £300 per participant (with two bursary places). Five customer segments are served: artists (primary), presenters and promoters, hirers of studio spaces, general audiences, and recent art school graduates. Governance is by a Board of Trustees with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no external equity ownership. Current leadership comprises Executive Director Ben Cooper-Melchiors (joined January 2022) and Artistic Director Raidene Carter (joined January 2024).

Name

Artsadmin

Legal name

Artsadmin

Website

https://artsadmin.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Artsadmin is a UK-registered charity founded in 1979 that supports contemporary performance artists through residencies, bursaries, advisory services, and venue operations at Toynbee Studios in London, with international touring and partner programming extending its reach globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Services

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Full-Service Artist Management (MPAIAGAA), Artist Booking, Talent Buying & Agency Services (MPAGAAAF)

Keywords

• Artist development programs
• Performing arts venue
• Arts council funding
• Artist residency programs
• Creative workspace rental

Headquarters

HQ city

London

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Space Hire (Toynbee Studios): Revenue from hiring out rehearsal studios, meeting rooms, theatre space, and the café to artists, producers, and organizations for rehearsals, performances, and events.
2. Grants and Public Funding: Core funding from Arts Council England (National Portfolio Organization), with additional project grants such as the Culture Recovery Fund Capital Kickstart grant (£33,966). EU funding received for collaborative international projects.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations through CAF, Easyfundraising, and direct giving. Ethical fundraising practices followed. Supporter campaigns for specific programmes.
4. Ticket Sales and Event Revenue: Box office revenue from ticketed events, performances, and workshops at Toynbee Studios, managed through Spektrix booking system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Artsadmin is a UK-registered charity that supports artists working in contemporary performance through artist development programmes, bursaries, residencies, mentoring, and creative support services. The organization operates Toynbee Studios in London, providing rehearsal and performance space hire, and produces touring projects and events both in the UK and internationally.

Product overview

Artsadmin is an arts organization operating a platform of interconnected services for artists rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings centre on Toynbee Studios as a physical venue providing rehearsal and performance spaces, complemented by a suite of artist development programmes including Creative Support (mentoring via Calendly), Morning Creatives, Homework Club workshops, the Artsadmin Anchor newsletter, and IMMERSION LAB intensives. Its flagship time-bounded schemes include the Artists' Bursary Scheme (1998–2021) and the BANNER graduate programme in partnership with UK art schools. Additional offerings include AiR and Lab residencies, and a full events/projects programme spanning seasons, touring work, and international collaborations. The portfolio is unified by Artsadmin's mission to support contemporary performance artists at all career stages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Toynbee Studios Space Hire Rehearsal and performance space, meeting rooms, theatre, and café facilities at Toynbee Studios in East London, available for hire to artists, producers, and organizations for rehearsals, performances, meetings, and events. Bookings are managed through the Spektrix system.
• Creative Support Service Free one-to-one advisory and mentoring service for artists and creatives at all career stages working in contemporary performance, with sessions booked through Calendly.
• IMMERSION LAB Intensive laboratory programme offering embodied research and international practice opportunities for artists. Developed in collaboration with PROJEKT EUROPA to engage artists with distinct global methodologies through creative experimentation.
• BANNER Graduate Programme Graduate artist programme supporting recent graduates from partner institutions transitioning into the professional sphere through space, resources, and mentorship. Delivered in partnership with Goldsmiths University of London MA Performance Making and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland BA Contemporary Performance Practice.
• Artsadmin Lab and AiR Residencies Residency programmes providing laboratory and development opportunities for artists, including international residencies such as Lab X in collaboration with 3oubour and PROJEKT EUROPA. The AiR (Artist in Residence) programme is announced annually.
• Artsadmin Events and Projects Programme of touring projects, performances, and events produced and presented at Toynbee Studios and touring to venues and festivals internationally, including seasonal programming of contemporary performance work by supported artists.
• Morning Creatives Regular morning sessions for artists providing development opportunities and creative support within the artist development programme.
• Homework Club Workshops Series of workshops supporting artists with funding applications, particularly Arts Council England's Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) fund, facilitated by Artsadmin Producers.
• Artists' Bursary Scheme Cash award and mentoring programme for UK-based artists working in live art, contemporary performance and interdisciplinary practice, supporting over 200 artists between 1998 and 2021. The programme is no longer active.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 artists supported through Bursary Scheme (1998-2021)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PROJEKT EUROPAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaboration on IMMERSION LAB programme - a new opportunity for artists to engage with distinct global methodologies through embodied research, international practice and experimentation. First programme: 29 June – 3 July 2026.
• 3oubourcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025International residency partnership for Lab X programme. Co-delivers residency opportunities with Artsadmin's core Lab programme.
• Raze CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration on Young Producers Club programme, supporting emerging producers in the arts sector.
• Goldsmiths University of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014BANNER graduate programme partnership. Artsadmin works with Goldsmiths MA Performance Making to support recent graduates transition into professional practice through mentorship, space access, and professional resources.
• Royal Conservatoire of ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014BANNER graduate programme partnership. Artsadmin works with RCS BA Contemporary Performance Practice to support recent graduates transition into professional practice.
• Live Art Development Agency (LADA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Additional supporter of the BANNER graduate programme, providing resources and development opportunities for participating artists.
• Station House OperacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing producing relationship. Artsadmin produces Station House Opera's Dominoes (since 2009) and At Home in Gaza and London (2015-2025). Dominoes has toured to 20+ cities internationally.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Roundhouse: London venue focused on creative development for young and emerging artists. Overlaps with Artsadmin on artist development and venue operations, with similar mix of earned income and grant funding.
• Southbank Centre: Largest arts centre in the UK operating multiple venues, festivals, and artist programmes. Overlaps with Artsadmin's venue hire, presenting, and artist support activity but at a substantially broader scale.
• Sadler's Wells: Major London dance and performance venue with artist commissioning, residencies, and touring activity. Comparable presenting and producing function, though at significantly greater scale and dance-focused scope.

Direct peers

• The Place: London performing arts development organization and venue focused on dance and contemporary performance. Comparable in combining venue operations (studio hire, theatre), artist development, and presenting.
• Improbable: UK producing organization working with artists across theatre, dance, and live performance. Comparable to Artsadmin in producing, touring, and supporting innovative contemporary performance work.
• Cove Park: Scotland-based creative residency centre supporting UK and international artists across disciplines. Comparable to Artsadmin's Lab/AiR residency and Lab X programmes in offering structured residential development for artists.
• Activate Performing Arts: UK organization supporting artists across disciplines with development programmes, residencies, and presenting. Comparable in its non-building-based artist development role and target practitioner base.
• Battersea Arts Centre: South London arts venue operating a mixed model of space hire, artist development, commissioning, and community programming — closely aligned with Artsadmin's venue-plus-artist-support model.
• Live Art Development Agency (LADA): London-based organization supporting live art and contemporary performance in the UK. Highly comparable to Artsadmin in mission, target audience, and programming, and is itself a BANNER programme partner.

Regional players

• The Albany: South East London community arts centre combining venue hire, participatory arts, and artist development. Comparable multi-purpose venue-plus-artist-support model, with a stronger community programming emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/artsadm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/artsadminuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/artsadmin
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/artsadmin
• Instagraminstagram.com/artsadm

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 Artsadmin