What Wac Arts does

Wac Arts is a registered UK charity (Charity No. 267043; Company No. 1158819) founded in 1978 in Kentish Town by Celia Greenwood and Teresa Noble as Weekend Arts College (WAC), originally providing affordable weekend arts classes for young people aged 14-30 facing barriers to opportunity. The organisation relocated to the Old Town Hall in Belsize Park, Camden, in 2000 and now operates from a Grade II listed, approximately 140-year-old building featuring multiple halls, studios, rehearsal facilities, meeting rooms, and offices. It delivers a portfolio of in-person performing, creative, and digital arts programmes for young people aged 4-30, including age-segmented weekend and evening classes (Junior Wac Arts for ages 4-15 and Senior Wac Arts for ages 16+), the Wac Nites disability inclusion programme, the Short Breaks Service, Summer School and holiday programmes, the Summer Series of masterclasses, the Actors Company, and a full-time Diploma professional training course. A Schools and Communities outreach programme extends delivery into Camden and London schools through workshops, the Schools Festival, and projects such as Listen Up! and a Creative Composition Project with the Royal College of Music. Technology within the disability and inclusion programmes includes assistive creative tools such as Virtual Reality with clay models and digital orchestra controllers (e.g., banana-based interfaces), branded 'Inclu-tech'.

Wac Arts generates revenue through four primary streams: termly enrolment fees for classes (VAT-exempt, paid upfront), venue and room hire to external clients including community groups and arts organisations, charitable donations and fundraising (including the Big Give Christmas Challenge, challenge events such as the London Landmarks Half Marathon, and corporate giving via Charity of the Year partnerships and legacy giving), and grant funding (most notably the £86,400 Heritage Lottery Fund Connecting Communities Project grant in 2018). Pricing structures include per-term subscriptions for weekly classes, per-week unit pricing for holiday programmes with optional three-month instalment plans, per-session unit pricing for masterclasses with 30-day refund windows, freemium free taster sessions at open days, and discretionary bursaries for the Summer School. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the wacarts.co.uk website, in-person enrolment at reception, and community outreach; the organisation also operates direct sales into schools for workshops and festivals and an e-commerce channel for venue hire.

Governance is provided by a Board of Trustees chaired by Margaret Gorman (appointed January 2025), with Bhuvan Sharma serving as Chief Executive. Notable alumni include Daniel Kaluuya, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Sophie Okonedo, and OT Fagbenle. The charity maintains active partnerships with the Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council England (via Kakilang), the Jack Petchey Foundation, the Royal College of Music, Camden Archives, Heritage Engagement Consultants Hopkins van Mil, Heritage Specialists Unfinished Histories, Thornton's Budgens (Charity of the Year), and building partners University of the Third Age and Akademi South Asian Dance.

Name

Wac Arts

Legal name

Wac Arts

Website

https://wacarts.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Wac Arts is a UK registered charity founded in 1978 that delivers performing, creative, and digital arts programmes—including weekend and evening classes, summer school, disability inclusion (Wac Nites), a full-time Diploma, and schools outreach—for young people aged 4-30 in Camden, London, from the Grade II listed Old Town Hall in Belsize Park.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education and Community Arts Venue Hire

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)

Keywords

• Performing arts education
• Youth arts programmes
• Inclusive arts training
• Venue hire services
• Community arts charity

Headquarters

HQ city

City Of London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Arts Class Fees: Enrolment in Wac Arts classes is paid per academic term or project. Payment is required in full at the point of sign-up. Mid-term enrolments are charged from the date of enrolment onwards only. Fees are currently exempt from VAT.
2. Venue and Room Hire: Wac Arts hires out its versatile venue including halls, studios, rehearsal facilities, meeting rooms, and office spaces to external clients. This generates rental income from organisations and individuals using the Old Town Hall building.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Wac Arts receives charitable donations from individuals, corporate partners, and participates in fundraising campaigns including the Big Give Christmas Challenge and challenge events such as the London Landmarks Half Marathon. The organisation also received Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £86,400 for the Connecting Communities Project.
4. Corporate Giving: Wac Arts offers corporate giving programmes including Charity of the Year partnerships and corporate sponsorship, generating revenue from businesses supporting the charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wac Arts is a performing arts and creative education charity that delivers weekend and evening classes, holiday programmes, summer school, summer series masterclasses, a full-time Diploma, and disability and inclusion programmes for young people aged 4-30 in dance, drama, singing, musical theatre, and digital arts at the Old Town Hall in Belsize Park, Camden. It also generates income through venue hire (halls, studios, rehearsal facilities, meeting rooms, offices) and is funded by donations, grants, and corporate giving.

Product overview

Wac Arts is a performing arts charity operating from the Old Town Hall in Belsize Park, Camden, offering a multi-layered portfolio of programmes for young people aged 5-30. The core offering consists of weekend and evening classes organized by age group (Junior Wac Arts for ages 4-15 and Senior Wac Arts for ages 16+), delivering instruction across dance, drama, singing, and musical theatre. The Wac Nites programme provides inclusive performing arts opportunities for young people with mild to moderate learning disabilities, while the Short Breaks Service offers respite activities. Seasonal offerings include Summer School (ages 4-14) and the Summer Series of masterclasses (ages 14+). The Diploma Programme provides full-time professional training, and the Actors Company offers advanced performance opportunities. The Schools and Communities outreach programme brings arts education to educational institutions and community groups. Venue hire services round out the offering, with versatile spaces available for external hiring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Junior Wac Arts (Weekend and Evening Classes)
• Senior Wac Arts (Weekend and Evening Classes)
• Wac Nites
• Summer School
• Summer Series
• Short Breaks Service
• Actors Company
• Diploma Programme
• Schools and Communities Outreach
• Venue Hire (Rooms, Halls, Studios, Offices)

Quantifiable outcome

• Wac Arts provides programmes to hundreds of young people each year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• KakilangminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKakilang is an interdisciplinary non-profit arts organisation championing East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) artists and communities. It delivers inclusive K-pop dance workshops at Wac Arts, facilitated by experienced dance specialist Mac-Daniel Palima (Mickey). Kakilang is a registered charity and National Portfolio Organisation funded by Arts Council England.
• Royal College of MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWac Arts partnered with Masters students from the Royal College of Music to deliver a Creative Composition Project for young people. This collaboration brought professional music students to deliver creative composition workshops as part of Wac Arts' Schools and Communities programme.
• Thornton's BudgensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThornton's Budgens, a local grocery store, named Wac Arts as its Charity of the Year. Budgens has achieved plastic free status and celebrates this accomplishment with the community. Wac Arts is proud to be associated as Charity of the Year.
• University of the Third AgeminorOthersUniversity of the Third Age is a building partner operating from the Old Town Hall alongside Wac Arts. It is one of the community organisations that creates the vibrant hub atmosphere at the venue.
• Akademi South Asian DanceminorOthersAkademi South Asian Dance is a building partner operating from the Old Town Hall alongside Wac Arts, contributing to the diverse cultural mix of the venue.
• Camden ArchivesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamden Archives is a project partner in the Heritage Lottery Fund Connecting Communities Project, collaborating with Wac Arts on archiving and heritage activities.
• Heritage Engagement Consultants Hopkins van MilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage Engagement Consultants Hopkins van Mil supported the Heritage Lottery Fund Connecting Communities Project as heritage engagement consultants.
• Heritage Specialists Unfinished HistoriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage specialists Unfinished Histories were a project partner in the Heritage Lottery Fund Connecting Communities Project, supporting Wac Arts' heritage work.
• Dr Ellie Pridgeon, Camden ArchivesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Ellie Pridgeon from Camden Archives served as a project partner, contributing archival expertise to the Heritage Lottery Fund Connecting Communities Project.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anna Scher Theatre School: Islington-based community theatre school offering performing arts classes for children and young people from a wide social mix. Closely comparable to Wac Arts' inclusive, community-rooted weekend/evening class model in inner London.
• Sylvia Young Theatre School: London-based performing arts school for school-age children with a famous alumni network. Comparable to Wac Arts in its London location, age-banded structure and full-time/part-time performing arts curriculum.
• National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT): Charity producing musical theatre with and for young people aged 11-23, including holiday courses and summer intensives. Directly comparable to Wac Arts' Summer Series, Summer School and musical theatre classes.
• BRIT School: Free performing and creative arts school for ages 14-19 producing high-profile alumni (Adele, Amy Winehouse). Comparable to Wac Arts' Diploma and Senior programme in mission, age cohort and producing graduates into the industry.
• Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts: Long-running London performing arts school for young people offering full-time training and part-time weekend provision. Mirrors Wac Arts' weekend/evening class plus Diploma model in the same London catchment.
• National Youth Theatre: UK charity delivering performing arts training and productions for young people aged 14-25. Closest direct comparator to Wac Arts' Diploma, Senior Wac Arts and Actors Company pathway in terms of mission, age cohort and producing-performer model.

Broad incumbents

• Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts: Larger London-based performing arts higher-education institution offering degrees and short courses. Comparable to Wac Arts' Diploma Programme in delivering professional training, but at greater scale and with degree-awarding powers.
• Stagecoach Performing Arts: Large nationwide franchise network providing weekend performing arts classes for children aged 4-18. Comparable to Junior Wac Arts' weekend classes in product, though delivered via a franchise model rather than a single-site charity.

Emerging players

• Open Theatre: Inclusive performing arts company working with learning-disabled artists. Comparable to Wac Arts' Wac Nites and Short Breaks offering, though more production-focused and smaller scale.
• Drake Music: UK charity pioneering music, disability and assistive technology. Directly comparable to Wac Arts' Wac Nites, Short Breaks Service and Inclu-tech (assistive creative technology) provision for young disabled people.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WacArts
• Facebookfacebook.com/WacArts
• Instagraminstagram.com/wacarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wac-arts

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Wac Arts