Arts & Business NI

What Arts & Business NI does

Arts & Business Northern Ireland is a charitable membership organisation, registered as a company limited by guarantee, that operates exclusively within Northern Ireland as an intermediary between the corporate sector and the arts. Its functional role is to broker partnerships, channel investment, and supply governance and board-development services that neither side could efficiently source on its own. The organisation serves two primary segments: business members (ranging from professional services and financial firms to transport and technology companies such as KPMG, Bank of Ireland, Translink, Alchemy Technology Services, and Belfast City Airport) seeking meaningful arts partnerships for staff development, brand elevation, and corporate social responsibility; and arts and cultural organisations seeking match funding, board members, and governance training to build long-term financial resilience.

The business model is a hybrid of subscription membership fees, transactional programme fees, and grant-funded activity. Members pay recurring annual dues for access to networking, events, and partnership facilitation. Discrete services carry separate pricing: the Leaders on Arts Boards programme charges £650 + VAT for members and £750 + VAT for non-members, while board matching fees are £150 + VAT for one board member or £275 + VAT for two. The organisation also operates the Investment Programme, a match-funding mechanism that has channelled over £700k into the Northern Ireland arts sector through the Blueprint programme since January 2022, currently supporting 29 cultural organisations. Principal funding is provided by Arts Council Northern Ireland, which also subsidises the leadership programmes.

Distribution is direct and regionally constrained — all services are delivered in-person across Northern Ireland via a head office at East Belfast Network Centre and a registered office on Paulett Avenue, Belfast. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging a members' hub, events and training sessions, email newsletters, a monthly What's On Guide publication, and a website (artsandbusinessni.org.uk) for awareness. The organisation does not operate a technology platform, mobile app, or API; its intellectual property is relational — the curated membership base, the funder relationships, and the institutional knowledge of NI's arts ecosystem — rather than technical.

Name

Arts & Business NI

Legal name

Arts & Business Northern Ireland

Website

https://artsandbusinessni.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arts & Business Northern Ireland is a Belfast-based charitable membership organisation that connects Northern Ireland corporates — including KPMG, Bank of Ireland, Translink, and Alchemy Technology Services — with arts and cultural organisations through match funding, board matching, and governance training programmes such as Blueprint and Leaders on Arts Boards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Business Development Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)

Keywords

• Arts business partnerships
• Corporate arts funding
• Board matching services
• Arts governance training
• Creative sector investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for businesses and arts organisations providing access to networking, events, and partnership facilitation services.
2. Programme Fees: Fees for participation in the Leaders on Arts Boards professional development programme, including Young Leaders (£650 + VAT for members, £750 + VAT for non-members) and Business Leaders programmes.
3. Board Matching Fees: Fees for board matching services: £150 + VAT for one board member recruitment, £275 + VAT for two board members, payable upon successful match.
4. Investment Programme Grants: Match funding grants to support new arts-business partnerships, with over £700k invested into the Northern Ireland arts sector through the Blueprint programme.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arts & Business NI operates a membership-based intermediary service that connects Northern Ireland businesses with the arts and cultural sector through three core pillars: an Investment Programme providing match funding for new arts-business partnerships (including the Blueprint Programme for long-term financial resilience of arts organisations); a Leaders on Arts Boards governance training and board placement programme for Young Leaders (aged 21-35) and Business Leaders (aged 36+); and a Board Matching service connecting arts organisations with skilled board candidates. Revenue is generated through annual membership subscriptions, fixed programme fees, transaction-based board matching fees, and grants from Arts Council Northern Ireland.

Product overview

Arts & Business NI operates as a membership organization and consultancy, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of services connecting businesses with arts organizations, including: a membership network providing networking, events, and member support; a creative consultancy that brokers arts partnerships and sponsorships between businesses and cultural organizations; an Investment Programme offering match funding for new creative business collaborations; governance and leadership training for board members and cultural leaders; and two specialized board development programmes — the Leaders on Arts Boards programme (with Young Leaders aged 21-35 and Business Leaders for experienced professionals aged 36+) that trains and places participants on arts organization boards. Additionally, the Blueprint programme is a long-term financial resilience initiative launched in January 2022 that provides strategic training, accredited mentoring, and investment grants to a network of arts and cultural organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blueprint Programme: Long-term financial resilience programme supporting arts and cultural organisations to grow income and build sustainable income streams.
• Leaders on Arts Boards Programme

Products and services

• Blueprint Programme Long-term financial resilience programme providing strategic training, accredited mentoring and investment grants to a network of Northern Ireland arts and cultural organisations, currently supporting 29 cultural organisations with over £700,000 invested since January 2022.
• Leaders on Arts Boards Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £700k invested into Northern Ireland arts sector
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Belfast City Airport and CinemagiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024IGNITE youth leadership programme: Belfast City Airport partnered with Cinemagic (youth film charity) supported by Investment Programme. Over 120 young people developed film-making and leadership skills. In 2024, students undertook trip to LA for industry engagement.
• Translink and Seedhead ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Street Art Jam collaboration to transform York Street underpass in North Belfast. Fifteen local street artists commissioned for vibrant murals divided into 'City' and 'Country' themes, celebrating diverse landscapes and communities connected by public transport.
• Alchemy Technology Services and The Playhouse TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Award-winning partnership creating The Art of Communication programme - a bespoke programme strengthening staff confidence, communication, and listening skills. Delivered within creative environment of The Playhouse Theatre, helping employees across teams.
• KPMGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term member of Arts & Business NI. KPMG staff participate in Leaders on Arts Boards programme and attend high-quality events and seminars. A&B NI identifies partnership opportunities aligned with KPMG's business priorities.
• Bank of IrelandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of Arts & Business NI community, supporting work that champions creativity and strengthens communities in Northern Ireland, particularly supporting young people.
• TranslinkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDelivers corporate responsibility through arts partnerships via Investment Programme. Translink operates public transport serving around 80 million passenger journeys annually. Partnership includes street art projects and ongoing arts collaborations.
• Alchemy Technology ServicescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Arts & Business NI supports ambition to leverage transformative power of arts for personal and professional development of employees. Collaboration delivered The Art of Communication programme with The Playhouse Theatre.
• Millar McCall WyliesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional services firm supporting the Leaders on Arts Boards programme by delivering governance training sessions.
• H&M Chartered AccountantssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChartered accountants delivering training sessions for Leaders on Arts Boards programme covering governance and boardroom strategies.
• Lyric Theatre and KPMGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership project funded by Arts & Business NI Investment Programme for 'Sensory Storytime' initiative.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/artsbusinessni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Arts & Business NI