What QUAD does

QUAD is a registered charity (Registered Charity Number 1115546; Company Number 05465412) operating as a multi-disciplinary arts and cinema venue in Derby's Cathedral Quarter at Market Place. It was formed in September 2008 through the merger of Metro Cinema (Green Lane, 1981) and Q Arts (1998), bringing independent and world cinema together with a contemporary art and participatory practice under one roof. The venue operates three cinema screens (capacities 234, 118, and 60), gallery spaces, the Digital Studio, a conference venue called The Box, meeting rooms, and an on-site café bar. Programming includes independent, international and Hollywood cinema, National Theatre Live and Exhibition On Screen event cinema, contemporary art exhibitions featuring local, national and international artists (anchored by the FORMAT International Photography Festival), education workshops in visual art, film, photography and digital media, and seasonal festivals (Summer Nights Outdoor Film Festival, Hot Goth Summer, Edge-Lit, Whooverville, Cult Film Club, Satori Screen, and Fright Club). CEO Eleanor Thornley leads the organisation under a Board of Trustees, with named patrons including Paddy Considine, John Tams, Jack O'Connell, Hetain Patel, Dr Jo Twist, Paul Carr, and Molly Windsor; the late Sir John Hurt CBE was its first patron from 2009.

The business model blends transactional, recurring, public-sector, philanthropic, and professional-services revenue. Transactional income comes from cinema ticket sales, venue hire (private screenings from £450+VAT across screens holding 40-230 guests), café bar food and beverage sales, and gift vouchers. Recurring revenue is generated by annual memberships at £45/year (with free CineBabies and CineKids tiers and a 16-25 tier at £5/ticket) and corporate NEXT STEPS sponsorships at £350+VAT/year. Public-sector funding flows from Arts Council England, the British Film Institute, and Derby City Council, supplemented by grants from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and donations including a seat-sponsorship programme. TECH:SQUAD generates professional-services revenue from exhibition installation, digital development (app development, VR, AR, animation, projection mapping), and UK-wide outdoor cinema screenings under the Summer Nights Film Festival banner. The organisation serves a diversified audience: schools and colleges in Derby and surrounding areas (over 9,000 children and young people, 400+ workshops and 6,000+ attendances per year), individual cinema and theatre goers, visual art enthusiasts, families with young children, and corporate clients such as Leonardo Hotel Derby and PIB Insurance. The charity references 350,000 visitors annually, over 3.5 million cumulative visitors since opening, more than 200 exhibitions and 4,000 films shown, and over £70 million contributed to the local economy.

QUAD is registered as a non-profit in England and Wales with no parent company, subsidiaries, M&A activity, or funding rounds disclosed. It operates as a direct-to-consumer cultural venue, reaching customers through its website (derbyquad.co.uk), Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and YouTube channels, weekly email newsletters, community partnerships with local schools and cultural organisations, and festival/event-based marketing. Distribution is concentrated at the Derby venue with the exception of TECH:SQUAD's UK-wide technical-services reach. All profits from commercial activities are reinvested into QUAD's charitable work in line with its status as a registered charity.

Name

QUAD

Legal name

QUAD

Website

https://derbyquad.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

QUAD is a registered charity operating Derby's multi-disciplinary arts and cinema venue, delivering independent and event cinema, contemporary art exhibitions, education workshops, venue hire, and café services across three screens, galleries, and a UK-wide technical services unit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and cultural venue services

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services (MPADAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

Keywords

• Arts cinema venue
• Contemporary art exhibitions
• Cultural education programmes
• Event cinema screenings
• Photography festivals

Headquarters

HQ city

Derby

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from cinema screenings, event cinema (National Theatre Live, Exhibition on Screen), and special film screenings. All profits from commercial activities are reinvested into QUAD's charitable work.
2. Memberships: Annual memberships at £45 per year providing benefits including waived transaction fees, discounted tickets, free birthday ticket, and exclusive newsletters.
3. Venue Hire: Hire of spaces including The Box, Digital Studio, Sir John Hurt Cinema, Cinema Two for private screenings, conferences, meetings, and events. Private screening prices start from £450 + VAT.
4. Café Bar: Food and drink sales including hot drinks, draft and bottled beers, wines, spirits, soft drinks, cakes and snacks. Proceeds support QUAD's programmes.
5. Donations: One-off donations from the public to support QUAD's exhibition, outreach, education and community work. Also includes seat sponsorship programme.
6. Gift Vouchers: Sale of cinema gift vouchers for 1 or 2 tickets and membership vouchers.
7. Technical Services: TECH:SQUAD provides technical services including exhibition installs, digital development (app development, VR, AR, animation, projection mapping), and outdoor cinema screenings under Summer Nights Film Festival.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

QUAD is a registered charity operating a multi-disciplinary arts venue in Derby providing independent, international and Hollywood cinema screenings across three screens, contemporary art exhibitions including the FORMAT International Photography Festival, an on-site café bar, venue hire, annual memberships, family/youth programmes, and creative education workshops reaching thousands of children and young people annually.

Product overview

QUAD is Derby's Cultural Hub — a registered charity providing a multi-disciplinary arts and cinema venue. The core offering consists of cinema screenings across three screens (independent, international, Hollywood, and event cinema such as National Theatre Live), contemporary art exhibitions (including the FORMAT International Photography Festival), and a café bar. Supporting services include venue hire for private events and screenings, annual memberships for adults and families, education workshops delivered to over 6,000 attendees annually, and TECH:SQUAD technical services for exhibition installation and digital media projects. QUAD also hosts seasonal festivals and film series including Cult Film Club, Satori Screen, Fright Club, and the Summer Nights Outdoor Film Festival.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FORMAT International Photography Festival: One of the UK's leading festivals of photography and related media, organised by QUAD.
• Summer Nights Film Festival
• TECH:SQUAD
• Satori Screen
• Cult Film Club
• Cine Kids
• Cine Babies
• QUAD Essentials

Products and services

• Cinema Screenings Independent, international, and Hollywood film screenings plus event cinema including National Theatre Live and Exhibition On Screen, shown across three screens (capacities 234, 118, 60) for cinema and arts enthusiasts in Derby and East Midlands.
• Art Exhibitions Contemporary art exhibitions featuring local, national and internationally significant work, including FORMAT International Photography Festival, one of the UK's leading photography festivals, with free entry to exhibitions.
• Café Bar On-site café bar serving hot drinks prepared by baristas, draft and bottled beers, wines, spirits, soft drinks, and cake selections including vegan and gluten-free options. Proceeds support QUAD's charitable programmes.
• Venue Hire Corporate and private hire of The Box, Digital Studio, Sir John Hurt Cinema, and Cinema Two for conferences, meetings, product launches, and private cinema screenings from £450 + VAT.
• QUAD Annual Membership Annual membership at £45 per year (auto-renewing) providing waived transaction fees, free cinema ticket on signup, free cinema ticket in birthday month, 10% off cinema tickets, Bring a Friend Friday members pricing, members screenings and events, guided gallery tours and previews.
• Family & Youth Memberships Family-focused memberships including free CineBabies for parents with babies under 12 months, CineKids Club with £5 tickets for children aged 16 and under, and 16-25 Membership at £5 per ticket.
• Education & Workshops Over 400 creative workshops annually for children, young people, families and schools covering visual art, film, photography, digital media, and clay & ceramics, supporting National Curriculum outcomes, Arts Award qualifications and Artsmark, with CPD for teachers.
• TECH:SQUAD Technical Services Technical services team providing exhibition installation, digital development (app development, VR, AR, animation, projection mapping), project installs, and outdoor cinema screenings across the UK under the Summer Nights Film Festival brand.
• Seasons & Festivals Themed seasons and festivals including FORMAT International Photography Festival, Summer Nights Outdoor Film Festival (launched 2011), Hot Goth Summer, Satori Screen (East Asian cinema), Cult Film Club, Fright Club, and Edge-Lit.
• Gift Vouchers Cinema gift vouchers for one or two tickets and membership vouchers available as print-at-home vouchers via email.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3.5 million visitors welcomed since opening in 2008
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leonardo Hotel DerbycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeonardo Hotel Derby is a business sponsor of QUAD. Located in the heart of Cathedral Quarter on King Street, the hotel is within walking distance of QUAD and supports the cultural ecosystem in Derby.
• PIB InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPIB Insurance is a business sponsor of QUAD, providing support for QUAD's charitable aims.
• Arts Council EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary public funder of QUAD, providing revenue funding to support QUAD's charitable aims and cultural programme.
• British Film InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic funder providing revenue funding to support QUAD's cinema and film programme.
• Derby City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority funder providing revenue funding and support to QUAD as a key cultural organisation in Derby.
• University of DerbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQUAD showcases work by students from University of Derby alongside professional artists. Partnership includes virtual residencies supporting graduating BA and MA students.
• Plus One PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partnership between major Derby arts organisations (Derby Theatre, QUAD, Déda, Derby Museums, Sinfonia ViVA, Baby People, Artcore, EMCCAN) providing free cultural opportunities for children in care and care leavers.
• Derby Cultural Education Partnership (DCEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQUAD is a key partner in DCEP, developed in response to Arts Council England's Cultural Education Challenge. Partnership includes Cultural Campus Days and After-School Clubs with creative and cultural partners in Derby.
• The Mighty CreativesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEast Midlands Bridge organisation partnering with DCEP to provide high-quality cultural experiences across Derby.
• BluecoatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-commissioner of Becky Beasley's 'A Gentle Man (Part II)' touring exhibition with QUAD and John Hansard Gallery.
• John Hansard GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-commissioner of Becky Beasley's 'A Gentle Man (Part II)' touring exhibition with QUAD and Bluecoat.
• AspectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner of Hot Goth Summer Film Festival.
• Derby DraculaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner of Hot Goth Summer Film Festival.
• Satori ScreenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular East Asian cinema night at QUAD. Satori Screen also presents special events including Godzilla-A-Go-Go festivals.
• Cult Film ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBi-monthly cinematic journey through infamous cult films and hidden gems at QUAD.
• National Theatre LiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular screenings of National Theatre productions at QUAD as part of event cinema programme.
• Bridge the Gap CICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild mental health organisation whose artworks by children and young people are exhibited in QUAD's Hope exhibition.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Watershed: Independent cinema and cultural centre in Bristol operating cinema screens, media programmes, café/bar, and venue hire. Closest UK analogue to QUAD in combining cinema, education, and a creative-economy/community hub model under one roof.
• Phoenix Cinema: Long-established independent cinema in East Finchley, London, operating a single-screen-plus venue with curated arthouse programming. Comparable to QUAD as a charity-supported independent cinema competing against multiplexes.
• Broadway Cinema (Nottingham): Independent cinema and arts venue in Nottingham operating multiple screens, a café/bar, gallery, and film education programmes. Directly comparable to QUAD in both offering mix and East Midlands regional positioning.
• Chapter Arts Centre: Multi-disciplinary arts centre in Cardiff operating cinema screens, gallery, theatre, café/bar, and education programmes. Closely comparable to QUAD as a registered charity-style venue combining cinema with visual arts and learning.
• HOME (Manchester): Independent arts centre in Manchester combining cinema screens, gallery exhibitions, theatre, restaurants, and education programmes. Highly comparable to QUAD as a multi-disciplinary independent venue with overlapping programming, café, and workshop offerings.
• Showroom Cinema (Sheffield): Independent cinema and creative-workhub in Sheffield combining multiple screens, a café/bar, workspaces, and film programmes. Comparable to QUAD as a regional independent cinema with broader community/cultural programming.
• mac Birmingham (Midlands Arts Centre): Midlands arts centre in Birmingham operating cinema, theatre, gallery, and education workshops. Comparable to QUAD in operating model (combined cinema + gallery + education) and West Midlands/East Midlands regional positioning.
• FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology): Liverpool-based arts centre combining cinema, gallery exhibitions, and digital-media/VR/AR programming. Highly comparable to QUAD's TECH:SQUAD-adjacent digital development and contemporary art focus.

Broad incumbents

• BFI Southbank: British Film Institute's flagship London venue operating multiple cinema screens, gallery (Mediatheque), and a national film programme. Comparable to QUAD as a publicly-funded film exhibition institution, though at substantially larger scale and as the sector's national incumbent.
• Barbican Centre: Major London arts centre operating multiple cinema screens, gallery, theatre, concert halls, and education programmes. Comparable to QUAD in offering mix (cinema + gallery + education) but at significantly larger scale and as a broader cultural incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/derbyquad
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Jessicats1
• Facebookfacebook.com/derbyquad
• Instagraminstagram.com/derbyquad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 QUAD