What GemArts does

GemArts is an award-winning arts organisation headquartered at Gateshead Central Library in the North East of England, operating as a programme entity under the registered charity Gateshead Visible Ethnic Minorities Support Group (GVEMSG, Charity No. 1008100). Founded in 2001 through a partnership between GVEMSG and Sage Gateshead under Arts Council England's audience development programme, the organisation programmes high-quality concerts, festivals, workshops, and commissions focused on culturally diverse and South Asian arts, reaching over 81,000 audience members and engaging 8,000+ participants annually across 35+ events with a network of 330+ artists.

Its core products include the annual week-long Masala Festival (launched 2016, now in its 10th edition in 2026), the Riverside Ragas Indian classical music concert series, an extensive school workshops programme (Bollywood Rhythms, Language of Colour, Play and Paper, Mini Melas, Capoeira), the Creative Associates artist development programme, and Arts Award/Artsmark accreditation support. Distribution operates through nine major venue partnerships (The Glasshouse, Tyneside Cinema, Northern Stage, Baltic, Dance City, Live Theatre, Vane), Eventbrite ticketing, direct school engagement, and the Easyfundraising donation platform. Technology usage is limited to standard SaaS tools (Eventbrite, Mailchimp, SurveyMonkey, Vimeo, WordPress) with no proprietary platform or AI capabilities.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit revenue structure combining institutional grants (Arts Council England, Gateshead Council, Youth Music, AHRC), earned income from ticket sales (£5-£22.50 per event), school workshop fees (£75-£300 per session), corporate memberships (starting at £150/year), bespoke sponsorship packages, and individual donations. Customer segments span the general public, schools across the North East, community and refugee/asylum seeker groups, and regional corporate partners. With only 6 employees, the organisation operates as a lean curator/programmer, leveraging external venue infrastructure and a freelance artist network rather than fixed-cost delivery.

Name

GemArts

Legal name

GemArts

Website

https://gemarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GemArts is a Gateshead-based charity programming culturally diverse and South Asian arts across the North East of England, running the annual Masala Festival, Riverside Ragas concerts, and school workshops, serving general audiences, schools, and community groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Cultural Programming

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

Keywords

• Culturally diverse arts
• South Asian arts festival
• School arts workshops
• Community engagement arts
• Artist development programme

Headquarters

HQ city

Gateshead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership: Businesses join the Corporate Members Club starting at £150 per year for businesses with 25 employees or less. Membership offers entertainment opportunities, profile recognition, and exclusive collaborations with GemArts events.
2. Donations: Charitable donations from individuals and supporters, accepted via cheque, bank transfer, and Easy Fundraising platform where online shoppers can raise money.
3. Sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities around performance and participatory programmes and Masala Festival, including holiday activities, workshops with young people, employee tickets, and brand visibility.
4. Ticket Sales: Revenue from concerts, performances, exhibitions, and events with varying price points from free to £22.50 per event.
5. Educational Workshops: Schools and community workshops ranging from £75 to £300 per day depending on activity type and duration.
6. Grants and Funding: Grants from Arts Council England and Gateshead Council, plus funding from various organizations listed as supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GemArts is an award-winning non-profit arts organisation that programmes and delivers culturally diverse concerts, festivals, exhibitions, workshops and artist commissions featuring regional, national and international artists. Its flagship offering is the annual Masala Festival celebrating South Asian arts and culture, complemented by the Riverside Ragas Indian classical music concert series and an extensive programme of school and community workshops. The organisation also runs the Creative Associates artist development programme, Arts Award/Arstmark accreditation support for schools, and a Corporate Membership programme for businesses.

Product overview

GemArts is an award-winning arts organisation offering a diverse portfolio of products and services centred on culturally diverse arts programming in the North East of England. The core offerings include the annual Masala Festival (a week-long South Asian arts celebration running since 2016) and the Riverside Ragas concert series. These are complemented by an extensive school workshops programme offering participatory arts sessions including Bollywood Rhythms, Language of Colour, Play and Paper, and Mini Melas workshops. Additional services include the Creative Associates artist development programme, Arts Award and Artsmark accreditation support, and a Corporate Membership programme. The organisation also delivers community projects and general workshops covering music, visual arts, dance, storytelling, and cooking across all age groups and backgrounds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GemArts Masala Festival An award-winning annual week-long festival celebrating South Asian arts and culture, featuring performances, exhibitions, events, workshops, pop-ups, and food events across venues in Newcastle and Gateshead. Running since 2016, the festival has become a fixture in the North East cultural calendar and is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026.
• GemArts Riverside Ragas Concert series pairing exceptional Indian classical music performances with informative pre-concert talks, conversations, or masterclasses for audiences wanting to learn more about Indian music. Held at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead.
• GemArts School Workshops Programme Participatory arts workshops for schools covering diverse art forms from around the world, including Bollywood Dance, African Drumming, Chinese Arts, Diwali workshops, Chinese New Year workshops, Ramadan/Iftar workshops, and Capoeira. Includes support for Arts Award and Artsmark accreditation, with over 17 years of experience working with schools across the North East.
• GemArts General Workshops Programme Professional artist-led workshops covering diverse art forms including music (African Drumming, Singing, Steel Pans, Music Production), visual arts (Chinese Arts, Indian Arts, Persian Calligraphy, Murals, Mask Making, Aerosol Arts, Digital Arts, Textiles, Photography), dance (Bollywood Dance, Street Dance, Chinese Dance, Capoeira), storytelling, living history, and cooking. Open to all ages and community groups.
• Creative Associates Programme Artist development programme supporting emerging and mid-career culturally diverse artists with training, mentoring, residences, and commissions. Engages artists whose work reflects creative and cultural diversity and supports them in developing work of the highest quality.
• Arts Award and Artsmark Support GemArts is a registered Arts Award Centre that helps schools achieve and maintain Artsmark status. Offers young people aged up to 25 the opportunity to achieve nationally recognised accreditation for arts activity, with Gold Arts Award carrying up to 35 UCAS points. Arts Award Discover certificates cost £4 per participant.
• Corporate Membership Programme Tiered corporate membership club offering bespoke benefits for businesses including entertainment opportunities, profile recognition, and exclusive collaborations. Membership starts at £150 per year for businesses with 25 employees or less, with bespoke sponsorship packages available for larger engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81,000+ audience members reached annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• The Glasshouse International Centre for MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing venue partner (formerly Sage Gateshead). Hosts Riverside Ragas concert series and Masala Festival performances including Indian classical music events.
• Dabbawal Street Food KitchenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerA decade-long partnership celebrating 10 years in 2026. Dabbawal creates special Masala Festival menus celebrating South Asian street food culture at their Newcastle locations.
• Tyneside CinemacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Masala Festival film screenings, including Shape of Momo premiere.
• Live TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner hosting Freespill spoken word event and other literary events during Masala Festival.
• Northern StagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner hosting major literary events including An Evening with Nikesh Shukla.
• Dance CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner hosting dance performances including Bulleh Shah: Seeker of Light by Gaurav Bhatti for Masala Festival opening.
• Baltic Centre for Contemporary ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner hosting film screenings through Baltic Cinema, including Master film for Masala Festival.
• VanecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGallery venue co-presenting Care/Work exhibition by Nayeema Ahmed with GemArts for Masala Festival 2026.
• Gateshead Central LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue hosting exhibitions including Playback/Rewind and Through the Lens, also houses GemArts headquarters.
• The Gateshead Housing CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership funder for We Stand Together anti-hate crime project alongside Gateshead Council Safer Communities Team.
• Newcastle UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner co-presenting Demons in Paradise documentary screening and hosting literary events.
• Northumbria UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner co-presenting film events and featuring graduate artists like Nayeema Ahmed.
• zerOclassikal projectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner bringing Free Flow Classikal event to Masala Festival featuring innovative Indian classical music collaborations.
• Jazz North EastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic organization co-presenting Free Flow Classikal event.
• Gateshead Visible Ethnic Minorities Support Group (GVEMSG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization established in the 1980s, registered charity since 1992. GemArts operates as part of GVEMSG which supports BME, asylum seeker and refugee communities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Akademi: UK South Asian dance organisation that produces and tours contemporary and classical South Asian dance work. Directly comparable to GemArts as a UK diversity-arts nonprofit programming performances, workshops, and artist development with South Asian focus.
• Ankur Arts (South Asian Arts UK): South Asian arts development agency supporting artists and producing diverse-arts programmes. Directly comparable to GemArts' Creative Associates-style artist development and diversity-arts programming mission.
• Rich Mix: East London cultural venue and charity hosting diverse arts, music, film, and community programmes. Comparable to GemArts as a diversity-arts presenting organisation with venue partnerships, festival programming, and educational outreach.
• Tara Arts: London-based South Asian theatre company producing plays, workshops, and education programmes. Operates with the same nonprofit / Arts Council-funded model focused on culturally diverse arts, making it a strong functional peer.

Broad incumbents

• Southbank Centre: Major UK arts centre programming culturally diverse festivals (e.g., Alchemy). Comparable as a large-scale diversity-arts presenter with venues, festivals, and education programmes, but operating at significantly greater scale and geographic reach than GemArts.
• Warwick Arts Centre: Large UK university-affiliated arts venue hosting concerts, festivals, and learning programmes. Comparable to GemArts as a regional presenting organisation with a strong learning/participation arm, though broader in genre focus.

Others

• Arts Council England: Primary public funder of GemArts and the UK arts sector. Listed as an OTHERS because it is an enabler/funder rather than a peer; its funding policies directly shape GemArts' operating model.
• Manchester Museum (University of Manchester): Major UK museum with cultural-diversity programming and community partnerships. Relevant as an adjacent cultural/community-education peer that shares the North-of-England diversity-arts and inclusion agenda with GemArts.

Emerging players

• Samāna Centre: UK-based nonprofit producing music and arts programmes rooted in South Asian and cross-cultural traditions. Comparable to GemArts as a smaller, emerging diversity-arts organisation with concerts, workshops, and community programming.

Regional players

• The Literary and Philosophical Society: North East England cultural institution offering talks, events, and learning in Newcastle. Comparable to GemArts as a North East cultural/learning venue partner but operates in adjacent (literary/intellectual) rather than diversity-arts niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GemartsUK
• YouTubevimeo.com/user14038507
• Facebookfacebook.com/gemarts
• Instagraminstagram.com/gemartsuk
• Pinterestuk.pinterest.com/gemartsuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gemarts

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 GemArts