What Acoustic Arts does

Acoustic Arts is a Bristol-based, privately held designer and supplier of permanent outdoor musical instruments, founded in 1990 by John Walls, a musician and former teacher with two decades' experience in early years and special needs education. The company manufactures a 13-product catalogue spanning xylophones, metallophones, pipe drums, bass chimes, and spiral scrapers, offered across timber, steel, and arch frame variants. Instruments are made-to-order using repurposed industrial materials (galvanised steel, aluminium tubing, MDPE water pipe, golf-ball beaters) combined with sustainably sourced English larch timber; all are tuned to the key of C major to maximise group interaction, are weatherproof, and carry full BS EN1176 compliance with a three-year warranty. Orders are delivered fully assembled by pallet for customer self-installation, with a 4–5 week lead time and standard GB mainland delivery priced at £125.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer distribution model, processing orders via the company e-commerce site, phone, and email, with no third-party resellers. Pricing is transparently disclosed and ranges from £1,295 for entry-level instruments (Spiral Scrapers, basic Vertical Xylophones) to £2,295 for the 15-note Horizontal Xylophone, with beaters as a £125 accessory line. Customer segments are spread across educational institutions (schools, nurseries, music education hubs), parks and recreation authorities, museums and cultural venues (Horniman Museum, National Museum of Scotland, Blenheim Palace, Winchester Science Centre), and therapeutic settings (Prior's Court School for young people with autism, Broomfield Hospital). Bespoke commissioned installations — interactive musical gardens, sensory gardens, musical mazes, and museum exhibits — form a complementary revenue stream, supported by long-standing partnerships with Touch Wood Enterprises, Metal Media, and CapCo Ltd. Since 2025 the company has explicitly pivoted away from workshop delivery toward product supply, retaining workshop referrals only as a signposting service. The firm is founder-owned with no external funding, employs approximately 12 people, and operates exclusively in the United Kingdom.

The company's strategic differentiation rests on inclusive, accessible design (notably cantilevered xylophones for seated and wheelchair users), BS EN1176 compliance, a unified C-major key tuning, and a 30-year project portfolio including a 1994 Civic Trust BT Environment Week Special Award. Marketing is concentrated on the company website, social media (Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Facebook), and presence at outdoor and arts festivals (Glastonbury, WOMAD, Secret Garden Party, Gardener's World Live). Pricing, warranty terms, customer self-install model, and absence of recurring revenue streams indicate a transactional, capital-light operating model that is highly dependent on the founder's personal design and relationship capacity.

Name

Acoustic Arts

Legal name

Acoustic Arts

Website

https://acousticarts.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Acoustic Arts is a Bristol-based, founder-owned designer and supplier of permanent outdoor musical instruments — xylophones, metallophones, pipe drums, chimes, and spiral scrapers — serving UK schools, parks, museums, and therapeutic settings. Since 2025 it has pivoted from workshops to a made-to-order product and bespoke installation model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Musical Instruments

NAICS

Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Instruments (Acoustic & Electric) (MPAIAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra) (CRALAEAA), Instrument Accessories & Consumables Retail (Strings, Reeds, Sticks, Cables) (CRALAEAE)

Keywords

• Outdoor musical instruments
• Playground percussion equipment
• Musical sensory gardens
• Inclusive outdoor installations
• Permanent playground xylophones

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Outdoor Musical Instrument Sales: One-time hardware sales of outdoor musical instruments including xylophones, metallophones, pipe drums, chimes, and spiral scrapers. Products are made to order with 4-5 weeks lead time and shipped fully assembled for customer self-installation.
2. Accessories and Beaters: Sale of tethered or loose beaters as accessories for the instruments. Beaters priced at £125 for 2 tethered or 6 loose beaters.
3. Bespoke Commissioned Installations: Custom design and installation of musical sensory gardens, playgrounds, musical mazes, and interactive exhibits for museums, schools, parks, and public spaces.
4. Workshop Services (Historical): Educational music workshops and hands-on demonstrations previously provided for children of all ages and abilities. Service no longer primary focus since 2025 pivot to product sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Acoustic Arts designs and supplies permanent outdoor musical instruments for educational, recreational, and therapeutic settings across the UK. The product range spans 13 items including xylophones, metallophones, pipe drums, bass chimes, and spiral scrapers, built from repurposed industrial materials combined with sustainably sourced English larch timber, tuned to C major key, fully BS EN 1176 compliant, and designed for inclusive play with cantilevered/wheelchair-accessible configurations. Products are made to order with 4-5 week lead time and backed by a 3-year warranty, alongside bespoke commissioned installations for museums, parks, schools, and public spaces.

Product overview

Acoustic Arts is a specialist designer and supplier of outdoor musical instruments for educational, recreational, and therapeutic settings. Their product portfolio consists of 13 distinct outdoor percussion instruments divided into three frame types (Timber Frame, Steel Frame, and Arch Frame), plus an accessory line of beaters. The core instruments include Bass Chimes, Horizontal Xylophone, Vertical Xylophone (in multiple frame variants), Xylophone (Steel Frame), Metallophone (Steel Frame), Vertical Metallophone (multiple variants), Pipe Drums (in Steel and Timber frame variants), and Spiral Scrapers. All instruments are tuned to C major key to maximise interaction opportunities, built from repurposed industrial materials and English timber, are weatherproof and BSEN1176 compliant. The company also offers a workshops service providing musical play activities through a network of teachers. Products are made to order with 4-5 week lead time, shipped fully assembled for customer installation, and backed by a 3-year warranty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bass Chimes (Timber Frame) A set of 6 hard-wearing aluminium chimes (75mm diameter) mounted on a sustainably sourced English larch timber frame. Chimes are tuned to a pentatonic scale (CDEGAC) producing long-lasting resonant tones accessible to all ages and abilities; designed for permanent outdoor installation at educational, recreational, and therapeutic sites.
• Horizontal Xylophone (Timber Frame) A 15-note horizontal xylophone producing warm, marimba-like tones with access from both sides for up to 6 players. Built from FSC certified hardwood keys on a solid timber frame with 110mm x 110mm legs set into galvanised steel anchors; premium-priced flagship instrument for playground and park installations.
• Xylophone (Steel Frame) Part of the flexible steel frame range suitable for diverse climates and terrains, featuring extremely hardwearing FSC hardwood keys producing warm, earthy tones. Designed for use with loose or tethered beaters; intended for permanent outdoor installation in playgrounds, parks, and educational sites.
• Vertical Xylophone (Arch Frame) An 8-note vertical xylophone made from FSC certified hardwood keys strung on PVC coated stainless steel cables within an elegant arched timber frame. Produces warm, marimba-like tones and is playable from both sides; suited to permanent outdoor playground and park installations.
• Vertical Xylophone (Timber Frame) An 8-note set of FSC hardwood keys mounted on steel cables within a solid timber frame. Produces warm, earthy tones with a durable, low-maintenance design, accessible from both sides; intended for permanent outdoor installation.
• Pipe Drums (Steel Frame) A set of 5 tuned drums built from heavy-duty PE pipe (blue or black) mounted on a curved galvanised steel frame. Very resonant with all-round access, sounding best when played by hand, and virtually maintenance free with no moving parts; suited to outdoor playground and public park installations.
• Pipe Drums (Timber Frame) A set of 5 tuned drums built from repurposed MDPE water pipe (black or blue) on a solid English larch timber frame. Produces bright, resonant sound suitable for playing with fingers or hands, with pre-fitted steel anchors for ground installation in outdoor settings.
• Metallophone (Steel Frame) A finely crafted set of tuned aluminium tubular bells with a generous 10-note range. Responds to the lightest touch and produces clear, sustained tones, playable with loose or tethered beaters; intended for permanent outdoor installation.
• Vertical Metallophone (Timber Frame) A 10-note vertical metallophone complementing the Vertical Xylophone with an extended tonal range. Features a bright bell-like tone for picking out tunes or playing sustained chords, accessible from both sides for paired playing and teaching; aluminium tubing with stainless steel cables and fixings, on a timber frame.
• Vertical Metallophone (Arch Frame) An arched frame instrument featuring a 10-note musical scale in the key of C (CDEFGABCDE). Aluminium chime bars are playable from both sides producing bright bell-like tones, securely mounted on stainless steel cables to allow resonance without swinging; suited to permanent outdoor installation.
• Beaters (2 Tethered or 6 Loose) Hardwearing, all-weather beaters made from repurposed golf balls with the right weight and texture for playing xylophone and metallophone instruments. Available as permanently tethered beaters (sold in pairs) or sets of 6 loose beaters; tethered versions use marine-grade stainless steel and marine-grade materials.
• Spiral Scraper (Arch Frame) A highly sculptural hand-built design shaped like an ammonite with a galvanised steel spiral. Different length tines can be tapped or scraped with a beater to produce tones rising in pitch towards the centre; accessible from both sides and playable with loose or tethered beaters.
• Spiral Scraper (Timber Frame) A hand-built, sculptural sound maker shaped like an ammonite with a galvanised steel spiral on an English larch frame. Tines can be tapped or scraped using loose or tethered beaters to produce notes rising in pitch towards the centre; accessible from both sides.
• Bespoke Commissioned Outdoor Musical Installations Bespoke design and installation service for outdoor musical sensory gardens, playgrounds, musical mazes and interactive exhibits delivered for museums, schools, parks, visitor centres and public spaces. Acoustic Arts works closely with clients to develop site-specific structures combining crafted timber and sculptural metalwork with distinct visual, tactile and musical appeal.

Quantifiable outcome

• BS EN1176 compliant - meeting European safety standards for playground equipment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Touch Wood Enterprises Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouch Wood Enterprises Ltd., established in 2002, provides timber frames built using unprocessed timber from the Forest of Avon. Collaboration on Music Station installations in London, Oxford, and Bristol.
• Metal MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetal Media (Kevin Hughes) specialises in one-off public art projects with metalwork. Collaborated on Horniman Museum Music Garden outdoor musical sculptures.
• John PackerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSculptor, designer and fabricator working mainly with metal incorporating other media including glass, concrete and wood. Listed as partner for potential collaborative projects.
• Jenifer PictonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith over 25 years experience creating innovative outdoor spaces, Jenifer Picton offers Educational Landscape Design for schools, community and residential settings. Potential partner for landscape-integrated musical installations.
• CapCo Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Acoustic Arts in 2023 to create Floraphones (flower-shaped xylophones) for a pioneering new play area at Blenheim Palace.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Percussion Play: UK-based designer and manufacturer of outdoor musical instruments for schools, parks, and play spaces. The closest direct competitor to Acoustic Arts, with overlapping product lines (xylophones, metallophones, chimes) and a similar inclusive-play positioning.
• Freenotes Harmony Park: Colorado-based maker of outdoor musical instruments designed for public parks and inclusive play. Comparable to Acoustic Arts in product category, weatherproof construction, and target customer (parks, schools, museums).

Broad incumbents

• Wicksteed: Established UK playground equipment designer and manufacturer with a long heritage serving local authorities and schools. Comparable to Acoustic Arts in customer segment and distribution, though music is one of many play categories within Wicksteed's catalogue.
• Proludic: French playground equipment manufacturer with a UK commercial presence, offering musical and sensory play installations. Comparable to Acoustic Arts on customer base (schools, councils, parks) but operates at a much larger scale and broader product mix.
• Richter Spielgeräte: German designer and manufacturer of playground and outdoor creative-play equipment, including musical elements. Targets the same public-sector and educational tenders as Acoustic Arts across Europe, though as a broader incumbent.
• Lappset: Finnish playground and outdoor fitness equipment supplier with musical play elements in its portfolio. Comparable to Acoustic Arts as a supplier to UK and European public spaces, though music is a sub-line within a broader play offering.
• KOMPAN: Global playground equipment manufacturer with outdoor musical and sensory play products in its catalogue. Overlaps with Acoustic Arts on playground specification and public-sector tenders, but competes within a much broader portfolio rather than specialising in musical instruments.
• HAGS: Swedish playground equipment manufacturer with a UK presence, supplying local authorities and schools with inclusive play and outdoor musical instruments. Overlaps with Acoustic Arts on tender opportunities and inclusive design, but as a broader incumbent.
• eibe Play: UK-based playground equipment manufacturer supplying local authorities and schools with inclusive and creative play products. Comparable customer base to Acoustic Arts, with some overlap on musical and sensory play specification.

Regional players

• Heckler: Australian supplier of outdoor musical instruments for schools and public spaces. Overlaps with Acoustic Arts' product category and inclusive design ethos, but primarily serves the Australian and Asia-Pacific market rather than the UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Acoustic_Arts
• YouTubevimeo.com/326539249
• Facebookfacebook.com/acousticarts.org.uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acoustic-arts
• Instagraminstagram.com/acoustic_arts_uk

Compliance1 record

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 Acoustic Arts