Carousel
Carousel is a UK registered charity and learning disability-led arts organisation founded in 1982 and based in Brighton. It delivers film, music, radio, TV, club nights, and spoken word programmes for learning disabled artists, young people, cultural venues, and public audiences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersBrighton, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Carousel does
Carousel is a UK learning disability-led arts organisation and registered charity (No 297201), founded in 1982 and headquartered at Community Base, 113 Queens Road, Brighton. Operating as a company limited by guarantee (No 2137755) under trustee governance chaired by Kirsty Pentecost and with a Director (Liz Hall) and Artistic Director (Gareth Evans), the organisation delivers a multi-disciplinary portfolio of programmes serving learning disabled artists, children and young people, cultural venues, and the wider public. Core offerings include the BAFTA-accredited Oska Bright Film Festival (the world's leading festival for films made by or featuring learning disabled and autistic people), Carousel Radio (an award-winning podcast featuring learning disabled presenters and recognised with British Podcast Award and Lovie Award honours), Carousel TV, The Rock House music gigs, Blue Camel Club (a 24-year-running learning disability club night), Carousel Chorus ensemble, Pop-Up Poets spoken-word programme, Media Team production services, FairGround Records (an in-house label distributing releases on Bandcamp), and a dedicated Children & Young People programme.
Revenue flows from four distinct streams: charitable donations (individual giving via JustGiving, VirginGiving, CAF, Give As You Live, PayPal, and corporate fundraising), grant funding anchored by Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation status (awarded November 2022) plus BFI, National Lottery, Global Make Some Noise, Youth Music Foundation and other foundations, ticket sales at £4.80-£6.50 per event with carers admitted free, and consultancy fees for accessibility training, customer service training, venue walkthrough videos, and secret shopper audits supplied to galleries, museums, cinemas, theatres and other venues. Distribution combines regional venue partnerships (Green Door Store, Brighton Dome Corn Exchange, The Old Market) with global reach through YouTube, Acast, Podomatic, Bandcamp and a touring festival presence including Brighton Fringe, The Great Escape and BFI Southbank.
The operating model is community-led and event-driven: an Artist Development function delivers training, mentoring, placements, commissions and international touring support feeding a pipeline that performs across the in-house ecosystem, while a sector-wide convening role is exercised through the Creative Minds Network of 52 learning disability arts companies. The organisation runs with approximately 58 staff, no parent entity, and a Technology stack oriented to standard digital marketing, payments, CRM and analytics tooling rather than proprietary AI/ML capability.
Carousel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carousel
- Legal name
- Carousel
- Website
- https://carousel.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Carousel is a UK registered charity and learning disability-led arts organisation founded in 1982 and based in Brighton. It delivers film, music, radio, TV, club nights, and spoken word programmes for learning disabled artists, young people, cultural venues, and public audiences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carousel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts and cultural services for learning disabled communities
- NAICS
- Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Kids & Family Learning Workshops (Family Crafts, Junior Maker Classes) (THAJAKAO), Community Parades, Carnivals & Street Fairs (MPAGAEAE)
Keywords
Where Carousel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brighton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Carousel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations: Individual donations through online platforms (Engaging Networks, JustGiving, VirginGiving, CAF), corporate donations, and fundraising events.
- Grant Funding: Core funding from Arts Council England as National Portfolio Organisation; BFI funding for Oska Bright Film Festival; BFI Audience Projects Fund; National Lottery; Global Make Some Noise; various charitable foundations.
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from paid events including Blue Camel Club (£5.50-£6), The Rock House (£4.80-£5), and festival tickets.
- Consultancy Services: Fees for accessibility training, customer service training, venue walkthrough videos, and secret shopper audits for galleries, museums, cinemas, theatres, and other venues.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | The Rock House gigs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Blue Camel Club |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Blue Camel Club access information |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | The Rock House Festival - Change The Scene |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels9 records
Carousel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carousel is a learning disability-led arts charity that develops, produces, and showcases creative work by learning disabled artists across multiple disciplines including film, music, radio, TV, and spoken word. The organization runs an integrated portfolio of programmes - including the BAFTA-accredited Oska Bright Film Festival, award-winning Carousel Radio, Carousel TV, Blue Camel Club nights, The Rock House gigs, Carousel Chorus ensemble, and Pop-Up Poets - alongside artist development, school outreach, and accessibility consultancy services.
Product overview
Carousel is a learning disability-led arts organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of creative programmes and services. The core offerings include Oska Bright Film Festival (BAFTA-qualifying international film festival), Carousel Radio (award-winning podcast/radio programme), Carousel TV (television production), The Rock House (music gigs), Blue Camel Club (club nights), Carousel Chorus (music ensemble), Media Team (film production), Pop-Up Poets (spoken word), and Children & Young People programmes. Supporting services include Artist Development (training, mentoring, commissions), Consultancy (inclusion training, venue audits), and FairGround Records (internal label for releasing artist music). Oska Bright DIY provides school workshops, while Postcards From My Seaside Town offers multi-sensory performance projects. The organization operates as a unified ecosystem where artists progress from development programmes through to professional production and performance opportunities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Oska Bright Film Festival World's leading film festival for films made by or featuring learning disabled and autistic people. BAFTA-qualifying festival promoting accessible screenings, training for venues, and skills development for aspiring filmmakers. Operates a touring programme with events across the UK.
- Carousel Radio Award-winning radio programme and podcast featuring learning disabled presenters hosting themed episodes. Distributed as podcast via Podomatic and Acast. Includes shows such as Meet Me In Five and Carousel Radio Takeover series. Won British Podcast Award and Lovie Award.
- Carousel TV Television programme featuring learning disabled talent on screen and behind cameras. Features music, art, comedy sketches, interviews, film segments, and news reporters with handmade cardboard studios. Broadcast on Latest TV and distributed via YouTube.
- The Rock House Regular Brighton gig featuring learning disabled bands and musicians including F.witch, Dima Zouchinski, and Crash Course. Hosted at Green Door Store, Trafalgar Arches, Brighton. Ticketed event priced £4.80 online and £5 on the door.
- Blue Camel Club The biggest learning disability club night on the South Coast, running for 24+ years with 109+ events hosted. Features learning disabled DJs and performers, themed activities, and is held at venues including Brighton Dome Corn Exchange and The Old Market. £6 per person with carers admitted free.
- Carousel Chorus Music ensemble producing original songs and performances. Released EP 'Freedom' in 2023 featuring songs inspired by nature. Records at professional studios and performs at intimate venues across Brighton.
- Media Team Creative team producing content for website, social media, and YouTube. Available for commissions. Team members trained in filmmaking, editing, camera work, presenting, script development, graphics, and sound design.
- Pop-Up Poets Spoken word programme giving learning disabled poets and storytellers opportunities to perform in public spaces. Artists deliver five-minute sets with microphone and speaker at outdoor and indoor venues.
- Children and Young People Programme Arts events and workshops for young people in music, film, radio, and digital arts. Includes school workshops, family activities, Arts Awards support, and resources for teachers and arts leaders.
- Consultancy Services Bespoke consultancy for venues and organisations on inclusion and access. Services include customer service training, venue walkthrough videos, and secret shopper audits. Operates the Creative Minds network as a national arts and learning disability network.
- Artist Development Skills training, placements, mentoring, and teamwork programmes developing learning disabled artists. Includes commissions, international touring support, awards, and partnerships with industry mentors.
- FairGround Records Carousel's own record label releasing music from learning disabled artists. Distributes EPs and albums from artists including F.witch, The Black Bawlerz, Carousel Chorus, and Bubbaloo via Bandcamp.
Quantifiable outcome
- 34,000+ live audience reached over five years; 3 million TV viewers
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Carousel
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Carousel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
Feature4 records
Carousel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Media TrackscoreJoint initiative giving opportunities to under-represented musicians in production music industry. Media Tracks delivers workshops on Production Music to Carousel artists; Carousel guides Media Tracks on accessible materials for learning disabled audiences
- Can Do MusosminorPartnership for Paralympics album creating energetic tracks with learning disabled artists and Can Do Musos artists
- The Great Escape FestivalcoreOfficial charity partner for The Great Escape 2023; opportunity to develop and promote learning disabled musicians through festival platform
- dreamthinkspeakcorePartnership for Postcards From My Seaside Town project; world-leading immersive theatre company collaborating with learning disabled artists on multi-artform performances
- WakehurstminorPartnership with London Philharmonic Orchestra for Carousel Chorus project creating new music
- London Philharmonic OrchestraminorPartnership with Wakehurst for Carousel Chorus project creating new music
- Brighton Comedy GardenminorCharity partner for Brighton Comedy Garden event; raising funds and profile at major regional comedy festival
- Creative Minds NetworkcoreNational arts and learning disability network operated by Carousel since 2012; 52 leading learning disability arts companies in network; sold-out national conferences and regional hubs
- Green Door StorecoreRegular venue partner for The Rock House gigs in Brighton; provides performance space for learning disabled musicians
- Brighton DomecoreVenue partner for Blue Camel Club events at Corn Exchange; major Brighton arts venue
- The Old MarketcoreVenue partner for Blue Camel Club events in Hove
- Brighton and Hove Operatic SocietyminorVirtual Choir chose Carousel as charity partner on video releases; donations made through Facebook
- Give As You LiveminorOnline fundraising platform enabling supporters to raise funds for Carousel while shopping online
- St John's College BrightonminorPartnership for talent search where The Black Bawlerz were formed during workshops
- FairGround RecordscoreCarousel's own record label releasing music by learning disabled artists including The Black Bawlerz album and Carousel Chorus EP
- Outside InminorCommissioned William Hanekom to design award-winning map for National Trust
- Reggie LondonminorCollaborated with Carousel to produce F.witch's music video Ice Cream on Mondays
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Carousel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Blue Teapot Theatre Company: Galway-based learning disability theatre company producing professional touring work and training programmes. Comparable peer in learning disability-led performing arts but operating primarily in Ireland rather than directly competing in the UK market.
Direct peers
- Heart n Soul: London-based learning disability arts organisation running music events, club nights (e.g., The Hub), artist development, and creative programmes. Closely comparable peer operating in similar LD arts niche with parallel event-driven programming model and Arts Council funding profile.
- Mind the Gap: Bradford-based learning disability theatre company producing touring performances, training, and international work with learning disabled artists. Directly comparable as a UK learning disability-led performing arts organisation with similar artist development, touring, and grant-funded model.
- DaDa Fest: Liverpool-based disability and deaf arts festival and organisation producing annual festival programming, artist development, and disability-led cultural events. Comparable peer given festival-led disability arts programming and similar grant funding model.
- Venture Arts: Manchester-based learning disability arts organisation offering visual arts, music, and performance programmes with artist studios and public exhibitions. Comparable as an LD-led arts organisation delivering multi-disciplinary creative programming with similar grant funding dependencies.
- Shape Arts: London-based disability-led arts organisation delivering training, exhibitions, and the Open call for disabled artists. Comparable peer in the broader disability arts sector with overlapping artist development and accessibility consultancy services.
- Access All Areas: London-based inclusive theatre company working with learning disabled and autistic artists on training, performance, and consultancy. Directly comparable as an LD-led performing arts organisation with overlapping artist development and accessibility consultancy services.
- Hijinx Theatre: Wales-based inclusive theatre company producing professional work with learning disabled actors, training programmes, and venue accessibility services. Strong peer given shared artist development, touring, and venue accessibility training offerings.
Emerging players
- Action Spectrum: London-based inclusive performing arts organisation working with learning disabled artists on creative projects. Comparable as an emerging peer in LD-led performing arts with overlapping training and production activities.
- Open Theatre: UK-based learning disability theatre company producing collaborative performances and training programmes with learning disabled artists. Comparable peer in the LD-led performing arts niche with similar touring and artist development model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carousel social profiles
Digital presenceCarousel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carousel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles23 records
Carousel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carousel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carousel
What does Carousel do?
Carousel is a learning disability-led arts charity that develops, produces, and showcases creative work by learning disabled artists across multiple disciplines including film, music, radio, TV, and spoken word. The organization runs an integrated portfolio of programmes - including the BAFTA-accredited Oska Bright Film Festival, award-winning Carousel Radio, Carousel TV, Blue Camel Club nights, The Rock House gigs, Carousel Chorus ensemble, and Pop-Up Poets - alongside artist development, school outreach, and accessibility consultancy services.
Is Carousel a public or private company?
Carousel is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Carousel founded?
Carousel was founded in 1982. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Carousel based?
Carousel is headquartered in Brighton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Carousel make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Charitable Donations are the primary driver. The others are grant Funding, ticket Sales and consultancy Services.
Who are Carousel's main competitors?
Blue Teapot Theatre Company is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Heart n Soul, Mind the Gap, DaDa Fest, Venture Arts, Shape Arts, Access All Areas and Hijinx Theatre. Emerging players are Action Spectrum and Open Theatre.
Does Carousel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carousel.
What industry is Carousel in?
Carousel's product category is Arts and cultural services for learning disabled communities. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAFAH, Family, Kids & Education Fairs, with a secondary code of THAJAKAO, Kids & Family Learning Workshops (Family Crafts, Junior Maker Classes). Its NAICS code is 7131 and its SIC code is 7900.