Thames Festival Trust

What Thames Festival Trust does

Thames Festival Trust is a UK-registered charity (Charity No. 1074794, Company No. 3577462) founded in 1997 and headquartered at 7 Bell Yard, London, with a stated mission of celebrating the River Thames through arts, heritage, education, and environmental programming. The organisation operates on a non-profit model, generating revenue through a mix of charitable donations (JustGiving), public-sector grants from Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and City Bridge Foundation, corporate sponsorship (Thames Water is a named partner), and ticketed event income. Its annual flagship is the Totally Thames Festival held each September, complemented by a year-round portfolio that includes the Thames Lens Photography Competition (21 years running), the Sing for Water concert series raising funds for WaterAid, the River of Hope education programme, and heritage projects such as Lost & Found.

The Trust's programming reached 453,500 people in 2025 across live and digital channels, with 45 videos produced and 413,000+ viewers, and engaged more than 11,000 students through education initiatives. Recent additions include Turning the Tide (Art Explora European Award 2025 winner), Tide Changers, MSCTY x Thames sonic journeys, and the international Ship of Tolerance collaboration. Strategic partnerships span the Port of London Authority, City of London Corporation, Illuminated River Foundation, Thames21, Graeae Theatre Company, and Chelsea Kayak Club, anchoring the Trust as the principal independent cultural convenor along the tidal Thames. The team is small (1–10 employees) led by Director Adrian Evans CVO, indicating a high-leverage operating model that relies on partnerships and volunteer engagement to deliver programming at scale.

Name

Thames Festival Trust

Legal name

Thames Festival Trust

Website

https://thamesfestivaltrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thames Festival Trust is a UK-registered charity founded in 1997 that produces the annual Totally Thames Festival and year-round arts, heritage, education, and environmental programmes along the River Thames for public audiences, schools, and institutional partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Cultural Festival Programming

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (71311)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI), Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

Keywords

• Arts festival programming
• Cultural heritage programmes
• Community arts engagement
• Artist development funding
• River cultural events

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, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through donations from individuals and supporters, with explicit mention of JustGiving pages for fundraising campaigns such as Sing for Water.
2. Public Funding and Grants: Receives funding from Arts Council England (National Lottery), National Lottery Heritage Fund, City Bridge Foundation, and other public bodies.
3. Event Revenue: Generates revenue through ticketed events and performances, with some events offering concessions for students, seniors, and those with disabilities.
4. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Engages with corporate partners including Thames Water support and other business sponsors for festival activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Thames Festival Trust is a registered UK charity that produces arts, culture, education, and heritage programmes centred on the River Thames. Its flagship offering is the month-long Totally Thames festival each September, complemented by the Thames Lens photography competition, the Lost & Found heritage research programme, the River of Hope schools education project, artist development programmes (Tide Changers, Seed Funder), choral fundraising events (Sing for Water), site-specific art installations (Turning the Tide), and community festivals (Tidefest). All programmes are delivered free or with concession pricing to engage London communities, schools, visitors, and emerging artists with the river's ecology, history, and cultural significance.

Product overview

Thames Festival Trust operates as a charitable arts and cultural organisation offering a diverse portfolio of programmes centred on celebrating and raising awareness of the River Thames. The portfolio includes the annual Totally Thames festival as the flagship month-long event, complemented by the Thames Lens photography competition, heritage initiatives such as Lost & Found, education programmes including River of Hope, and artist development through Tide Changers and the Seed Funder Programme. Supporting programmes include Sing for Water (choral fundraising), Turning the Tide (film installations), Reflections (flotilla events), Tidefest (community festival), The Ship of Tolerance (international art), MSCTY x Thames (sonic experiences), and Red Umbrella (cultural exchange). These offerings collectively engage audiences with arts, heritage, education, and environmental themes along the Thames.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Totally Thames Festival Annual month-long season of unique and inclusive arts and culture throughout September with activity taking place on, beneath, and along the River Thames, running the 42-mile stretch of the Thames through collaborative work with artists, communities, and river organisations. Aimed at London residents, visitors, schools, and river enthusiasts.
• Thames Lens Photography Competition Annual photography competition inviting photographers and filmmakers to capture unique shots of the River Thames, celebrating the river's vibrant, multifaceted character and communities living and working on it. Aimed at amateur and professional photographers and filmmakers.
• Lost & Found Heritage Project Heritage programme revealing untold maritime histories of Greenwich and Deptford through mudlarking research, artefacts, and community engagement. Includes a heritage traineeship programme, guided mudlarking tours, and Mudlarking Exhibitions at venues including St Paul's Cathedral and London Museum Docklands. Aimed at heritage enthusiasts, mudlarkers, schools, and local communities.
• River of Hope Education Programme Education project engaging young people with river-themed artwork and poetry, created in partnership with schools and communities to explore reflections on the river and climate crisis through creativity. In 2025 the programme worked with schools in Dorset, Newham, Norfolk, and Tees Valley, plus international partners in France and Ethiopia. Aimed at primary and secondary schools.
• Seed Funder Programme Programme providing early to mid-career artists with support to shape, develop, and deliver River Thames, waterway, or sustainability themed projects. Includes seed funding, development support, marketing assistance, and venue access. Aimed at emerging and mid-career artists.
• Tide Changers Development programme providing early career artists under 30 with support to shape, develop, and deliver River Thames projects, including seed funding, marketing, and development sessions. Aimed at emerging artists under 30.
• Sing for Water Riverside choral event bringing together choirs from across the UK to raise money and awareness for WaterAid, with performances of water-inspired songs as part of Totally Thames. Aimed at choirs, singers, and charitable donors; ticketed for audiences.
• Turning the Tide Site-specific film installation by Turner Prize-nominated Catherine Yass, featuring projected installations on Blackfriars Railway Bridge celebrating young disabled actors and inclusion, produced in partnership with Graeae Theatre Company. Aimed at London audiences with a focus on disabled creatives and inclusive public art.
• Reflections Illuminated flotilla tribute event marking royal occasions, featuring decorated vessels sailing through the Thames with Her Majesty The Queen's Row Barge Gloriana. Aimed at London audiences and royal celebration attendees.
• Tidefest Free family-friendly community festival celebrating the tidal River Thames at Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick, including kayaking, river dipping, foreshore walks, water sports, and fishing activities. Aimed at London families and local communities.
• The Ship of Tolerance International art project created by Ilya and Emilia Kabakov dedicated to educating and connecting children from different continents, cultures, and identities through the universal language of art, produced in the UK with Art Action Change. Aimed at schools, families, and cross-cultural audiences.
• MSCTY x Thames Sonic journey along the River Thames featuring music compositions at Tower Bridge, London Bridge City Pier, Thames Barrier, and Woolwich Foot Tunnel, with geolocation-enabled audio experience on Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Aimed at commuters, Thames travellers, and music audiences.
• Red Umbrella Korean-British cultural exchange dance performance presented as part of Totally Thames, featuring The Move dance group performing with local community participation. Aimed at dance audiences and cultural exchange participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached 453,500 people in 2025 with arts, heritage, and education programmes
• +2 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

Integration2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Graeae Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025Disabled-led theatre company partnering with Turner Prize-nominated artist Catherine Yass for Turning the Tide film installation, creating a site-specific project on Blackfriars Railway Bridge celebrating young disabled actors through projected film installation.
• WaterAidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term charity partner for Sing for Water choral events since 2002, raising over £1.4 million to provide clean water and sanitation globally.
• Illuminated River FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Thames Lens short film category, sponsoring new competition category and providing judging panel representation.
• Thames21minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partnering for Tidefest river dipping activities and foreshore clean-up events.
• Chelsea Kayak ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for kayaking activities at Tidefest, providing equipment and guided sessions on the Thames.
• Creekside Discovery CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Lost & Found: Creekside Low Tide Walk events, providing conservation expertise and guided walks in Deptford Creek.
• St Paul's CathedralminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner hosting Mudlarking Exhibition in Wren Gallery, providing historic Georgian cathedral setting for artefact exhibitions.
• London Museum DocklandsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner hosting Mudlarking Weekend exhibition in historic Georgian warehouse building.
• Art Action ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-cultural platform that produced The Ship of Tolerance UK edition, fostering dialogue through art projects and cultural events.
• Thames Explorer TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for guided mudlarking tours, providing expert mudlark Richard Hemery for pottery and archaeological expertise.
• TheatreshipminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHistoric ship venue docked at Canary Wharf, hosting Songs on the Water folk singalong events as part of Totally Thames.
• Royal Docks OriginalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiennial festival partnership presenting Rekindling fire installation by Compagnie Carabosse at Royal Victoria Dock.
• Uber Boat by Thames ClippersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransport partner for MSCTY x Thames sonic journey project, with QR codes on boats and pier-based sound installations along the route.
• Team London BridgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioning partner for MSCTY x Thames project, supporting sonic placemaking programme between Royal Docks and London Bridge.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society: Charity that supports and promotes the world's largest arts festival in Edinburgh. Directly comparable as a charity-led festival organisation running large-scale multi-venue cultural programming with mixed public funding, donations, and ticketed events.
• Greenwich+Docklands International Festival: London-based outdoor arts festival along the Thames in Greenwich and Docklands, including free outdoor performances and disability-led work. Highly comparable as a London festival charity on the Thames delivering free and ticketed outdoor cultural programming with similar funder mix (Arts Council, Heritage).
• Southbank Centre: UK arts charity operating the South Bank cultural complex along the Thames, delivering year-round festivals, residencies, and education programmes. Directly comparable operating model as a London-based cultural charity running festivals along the Thames with mixed public funding, corporate sponsorship, and ticketed income.
• Hay Festival: Charity running global literary and arts festivals across the UK and internationally. Comparable festival-running charity model with similar mix of public funding, sponsorship, and ticketed cultural programming aimed at broad public audiences.
• Somerset House Trust: Independent charity running Somerset House as a major cultural venue on the Thames, hosting festivals, exhibitions, and artist development programmes. Closely comparable as a heritage cultural-venue charity combining free and ticketed programming with public and corporate funding.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Albert Hall: Larger UK charitable venue running a year-round programme of concerts, festivals, and education initiatives. Comparable as a UK cultural charity but operates at materially larger scale and with a more established international ticketed-events business.
• Barbican Centre: Major London arts centre operated by the City of London, hosting festivals, visual arts, and education programmes. Comparable cultural-venue operating model in London with overlapping Arts Council funding and education programming, but at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• English Heritage: UK charity caring for historic sites, monuments, and landscapes with public programming and learning. Comparable as a heritage charity delivering public programmes, schools engagement, and ticketed cultural experiences, though at much larger scale and broader geographic remit.
• Historic Royal Palaces: Independent charity that looks after unoccupied royal palaces, running heritage interpretation, exhibitions, and learning programmes. Comparable as a UK heritage charity delivering public programmes, education, and ticketed heritage experiences funded by admissions and grants.

Others

• Thames21: London environmental charity focused on the tidal Thames, delivering river clean-ups, education, and community engagement. A documented programme partner of Thames Festival Trust (Tidefest), adjacent rather than competitive, sharing Thames-focused mission and education delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thamesfesttrust
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ThamesFestivalTrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThamesFestivalTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thamesfestivaltrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/thamesfestivaltrust

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Thames Festival Trust