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← Art Gene Limited

2025-03-31-accounts

Charity registration number 1135536 (England and Wales)

Company registration number 04359454

ART GENE LIMITED

ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

ART GENE LIMITED

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees N Van der Velden E Speight N McKinnell A Din H Kaur D Haley M Stanton C Davis S Sandford (Appointed 18 December 2024) H Brackston (Appointed 18 December 2024) J Powell (Appointed 18 December 2024) Secretary N Wild Charity number 1135536 Company number 04359454 Principal address The Nan Tait Centre Bath Street Entrance Barrow-in-Furness LA14 5TY Registered office The Nan Tait Centre Bath Street Entrance Barrow-in-Furness LA14 5TY Independent examiner Melville & Co Unit 17-18, Trinity Enterprise Centre Furness Business Park Ironworks Road Barrow-in-Furness LA14 2PN

ART GENE LIMITED

CONTENTS

Page
Trustees' report 1 - 6
Independent examiner's report 7
Statement of financial activities 8
Balance sheet 9
Statement of cash flows 10
Notes to the accounts 11 - 20

ART GENE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice, "Accounting and Reporting by Charities", issued in March 2005.

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects are, for the public benefit, to advance the education of the public in Arts in Barrow-inFurness, and also nationally and internationally, through the establishment of a facility to encourage artist led initiatives; particularly the production and exhibition of new work. The policies adopted in furtherance of these objects are to implement a programme of local art and design-focused events, educational visits and workshops and there has been no change in these during the year.

In planning and carrying out the charity's activities the Board and management are always aware that such activities must be for the public benefit. As such the Board confirm that they have had due regard to the Charity Commission's published guidance on the 'public benefit' motive.

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. The trustees fully support Art Gene’s mission that these activities be produced sustainably in pursuit of a Zero Carbon Cumbria.

Achievements and performance

Art Gene has shown a strong performance as a charity in 2024/25, despite experiencing one of the most profound challenges in our 22-year history. Sadly, in July 2024 we announced the death of our founding coDirector, Stuart Bastik, and also marked the passing of former Art Gene Director Julie Hammerton, who died a few months before. Both were fundamental to the establishment of Art Gene, the first, and still the only, contemporary visual arts charity in Barrow-in-Furness. Stuart, part of the staff team until his last months, was a unique creative talent and a driving force behind Art Gene’s impressive portfolio, alongside Maddi Nicholson, helping to shape our charity’s focus on art to drive positive change. Staff and Trustees marked his passing with great sadness, whilst supporting one another to ensure the work of the charity continued to be delivered and developed.

During the year, Art Gene was focused on its core work of creating socially engaged visual art in some of the most economically and culturally deprived electoral wards in Northwest England. Through a series of externally funded projects, we facilitated the public, and the artist community from across the UK, to engage with the social, natural and built environment of Barrow. Our core team, partners, and the artists in residence we commissioned, worked together to learn about and offer local solutions to some of the biggest problems facing our society, including climate change, biodiversity loss and poverty.

Maddi Nicholson remained as Artist Director of the Company. Norman Wild (Company Secretary and Finance Manager) continued to work two days per week, and Workshop Manager, Clinton Rimmer, and Projects and Communications Manager, Rachael Barker, worked full time throughout the year.

Art Gene continued to employ a range of staff on fixed-term contracts. Jo Reilly continued to fulfil a dual role, working part time as Futures Business Development Associate, supported by the Esm é e Fairbairn Foundation (EFF), and part-time on the Earnse Project, commissioned by Natural England to research and write an Activity Plan to support a major grant submission to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Following a successful funding campaign, Miranda Hill’s post as Programme Associate was extended to full time during the year. Bethan Pettitt worked almost the whole year as our Creative Gardener on a three-day a week contract before resigning in March 2025 to set up her own full time landscaping business.

As a team, we continued to operate and manage the artist-designed community growing space, Allotment Soup, on Walney Island where we promote outdoor arts engagement, biodiversity and organic food growing, utilising large-scale polytunnels. We were successful in a grant application to replace the volunteers’ polytunnel, the first destroyed in a heavy snow storm, and with another grant to create an orchard in a field adjacent to Allotment Soup – this project is on hold whilst a draft lease on the land from Westmorland and Furness Council is finalised.

ART GENE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Our office continues to be situated in the Nan Tait Centre, a large Victorian building in Barrow town centre, home to our workshops, studios, garden and gallery spaces. The building remains in urgent need of maintenance and repair, and we continue to log issues with the landlord, Westmorland and Furness Council. We welcomed the completion of a Council-led structural survey on the building during 2024. Art Gene’s expression of interest in a community asset transfer arrangement with our landlord, mentioned in last year’s annual report, has not been pursued by Westmorland and Furness Council: the Nan Tait Centre is not surplus to requirements as long as Council services operate from the building and there is no stated intention to move the Council functions out before December 2025.

Meanwhile, Trustees have asked the executive to pursue a new lease for Art Gene on our half of the building (before our current lease expires in 2027), and to make representations to the Council about further excessive service charges introduced this year, which Trustees have challenged. Whilst these discussions are ongoing, and as shown in these accounts , we continue to hold funds that may be required to meet any appropriate retrospective service charges; Trustees have updated Art Gene's risk register and we are confident that the uncertainty - though unsatisfactory and consuming of staff time - can be satisfactorily managed.

Bringing important security to the charity, 2024/2025 marked the second year of our current Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation core grant award. We were delighted by the news that ACE will extend this settlement by at least a year, subject to grant terms being met. Barrow is a priority place for ACE and it has been a pleasure during the year to host meetings and development workshops led by the ACE North West team, and to support individual artists in Barrow to seek advice and funding to extend their practice. The benefit of sustained ACE support for Art Gene and our work has been evident, providing us with a stable platform from which to develop new partnerships and projects and to extend the number of artists we support.

We provide a summary of our project and strategic work in the section below. As ever, all of our outputs, opportunities and achievements were shared regularly with the public through a regular newsletter, third party recruitment portals, by using Eventbrite and via our popular Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Highlights from the artistic programme and project work

I. Heritage High Street Cultural Programme

The beginning of the year brought the end of Barrow’s Heritage High Street ‘ Re:Discover Barrow’ – Lost Shops programme , supported by Historic England in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council and led by Art Gene. The exhibition we curated, ‘Place – Re:Discover Barrow’ featuring work by more than 15 local artists continued for the first few weeks of April. We have continued to distribute the accompanying ‘Lost Shops’ catalogue throughout the year before closing this four-year project.

II. Know Your Neighbourhood

Based on the success of the Cultural Programme, Art Gene won additional Know Your Neighbourhood funding through Historic England to extend our volunteering programme. We joined this with two Micro to Mighty small heritage grants from Westmorland and Furness Council to expand our history-based work and present it in a more ambitious way. Working with volunteers, we recorded the memories of former students at Barrow’s Old Technical College, now home to Art Gene, and explored the local significance of the Walney Shelter, a modest but important structure on Walney Island. Both projects were brought together in a gallery exhibition ‘If These Walls Could Talk’ , featuring found and saved objects from when the Technical College was derelict. The exhibition, invigilated by volunteers, attracted visitors and schools’ groups throughout May and June 2024. We took the opportunity to commission a local artist, Jennie Dennett , to make an interactive art work from the testimonies, which was featured in the exhibition – sensors on a plan of the Nan Tait Centre printed on fabric could be pressed to hear specific memories about that part of the building. We continue to collect recordings from people we meet who studied or worked in the Nan Tait Centre and will continue to add records to the Cumbria County archive.

ART GENE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

III. Deluge

The year under review also marked the final year of a three-year partnership with Art Walk Projects in Edinburgh and the University of Groningan working on the Deluge project. Focussed on the ecological importance of salt marsh as a vehicle for carbon capture, Art Gene worked with three international artists - Dana Olărescu (Romania/UK – representing Art Gene and working on the Furness salt marsh landscapes), Oscar Van Heek (Netherlands/Scotland – representing Aberlady in Scotland) and Linde Ex (Netherlands - representing the Wadden Sea in the Netherlands). We curated an impressive Deluge exhibition, open in our main Gallery during February and March 2025, showing works on a grand scale. Visitors were invited to draw in the gallery and to think about the impacts of further coastal flooding. On 23 February, we hosted a community conference in the gallery featuring scientists and artists in dialogue and attended by over 40 delegates.

IV. The Earnse Project

Our work to help deliver The Earnse Project stepped up this year. One of four partners alongside Natural England, Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumbria Wildlife Trust, we worked hard on a year-long intensive community consultation process. The project will eventually deliver a new multi-million-pound nature, play and camping facility, environmental centre and beach school on Walney Island delivering new volunteering and wellbeing activity. Art Gene’s creative team led innovative community conversations on the estates around Barrow to inform the project planning, whilst other staff members provided fortnightly input into project steering group or governance meetings to keep the complex project on track. Jo Reilly was commissioned to write the Activity Plan, which will be due for submission (on the latest project timetable) in the summer of 2025.

V. Catalyst

We were part of a consortia with Cumbria Arts and Culture Network and the University of Cumbria to manage three generous artists’ residencies throughout the year. Emma McGordan, Jack McNeill , and Azraa Motala , each with close ties to Cumbria, were awarded £25k bursaries and appointed a mentor in a process overseen by the partners. Art Gene has hosted Azraa and facilitated conversations between her and the local community which have directly informed her painting. Maddi Nicholson is one of the artists mentoring Azraa Motala and an exhibition of Azraa’s work is planned for 2026. Further, Art Gene intends to show the work of more of the Catalyst applicants – over 240 people applied - during 2025/26, maximising the opportunities offered by the project.

VI. Barrow Island Engagement Project

We were delighted to win a tender to deliver a public engagement project for Westmorland and Furness Council. The majority of the work will be done in 2025 but towards the end of this year we led two community events, one focused on the social history of the area, where architect Charlie McKeith presented his research, and present and past residents were asked to share their memories and ideas. The second event responded to the communities’ ideas and involved Art Gene leading a community clean up of the historic estate.

ART GENE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

VII. Artists in Residence

We worked with a talented range of other freelance and independent artists this year as part of our core Arts Council work. Following an introduction from ACE, we hosted Manchester-based artist Jenny Steele on a residency based at Allotment Soup. A textile artist who often uses natural materials, we worked with Jenny over a year to harvest reeds and grasses from Allotment Soup, facilitate workshops with women keen to learn new weaving skills, and support her to create new artwork, a boat installation shown for the first time floating on the pond at Allotment Soup. We raised funding as members of the Coastal North Collective to supplement Jenny’s workshops, extending the series to involve additional Allotment Soup volunteers and Barrow’s refugee and asylum-seeking community. We were delighted to achieve national profile through Jenny’s excellent media and promotional work.

Our second ‘REAL Barrow’ artist in residence, Anna Clough , was appointed in the Spring and worked in our studio and workshop over the summer months, engaging children and families in a playful creative project looking at the life cycle of the pea. Based at Allotment Soup for much of the time, the participants grew peas, drew peas, made zines and finally made and ate mushy peas from the crop. Anna printed participants’ art works on fish and chip paper, which was distributed though fish and chip shops in Barrow. Artworks were framed and presented to the businesses that took part. In a second part to her project, Anna researched the long-abandoned salt-making industry on Walney Island and created installations interpreting this history. Both Anna’s and Jenny’s work featured alongside that of Maddi Nicholson, the Cella Collective and other artists to form the exhibition in the outdoors ‘That Wet Stuff’ open in September 2025.

Always keen to expand the audiences we work with, we secured funding form the Cumbria Community Foundation for a pilot project to work with autistic young people at Allotment Soup. We were delighted to contract artist Rema Grace-Gifford to deliver a ‘Garden of Sensory Delights’ programme over a six-week period and develop a temporary new ‘auticulture’ plot at Allotment Soup.

We continued to support BarrowFull, Barrow’s Creative People and Places project, running a series of holiday Playcation workshops in the summer of 2024 to support its programme.

VIII. Online Work

We continued to develop our digital work in 2024/25, once again supporting disabled artists through the related commissioning. In its final year, the Digital U programme was once again curated by Sophie Lindsey who led an open artist call in January 2025 using Art Gene platforms. The ‘Torn Together’ series of works by the five artists selected will show later in 2025.

IX. Additional Partnerships

Art Gene continued to contribute to the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership (ZCCP) , inputting a Barrow perspective into strategic meetings and leading biodiversity and decarbonisation projects. Highlights were four ‘ bioblitz ’ sessions with local primary schools, part of a Place project lead by a ZCCP partner, CDEC. This led to the children producing wonderful art work that was turned into an impressive online booklet by Maddi Nicholson. A ‘ Fix Fest’ organised and hosted by Art Gene with a local CIC People, Pocket, Planet was also a great success. A practical celebration of reuse and recycling, it was attended by over 80 people. We were also delighted to partner with Cumbria Action for Sustainability and a wide-ranging consortium to complete delivery of a Shared Prosperity grant: we worked with filmmaker Rachel Capovila to make and promote five Art Gene films celebrating the decarbonisation journeys of Barrow businesses and published a further eight designed paperbased case studies during the year.

It was a pleasure to collaborate with the National Trust to celebrate the 40[th] anniversary of Sandscale Haws, the nature reserve it manages in Barrow. The Trust commissioned a new film by Cumbrian-based artist Dom Bush which received its premier in the Art Gene Gallery before being entered into the film festival circuit.

Perhaps our most treasured partnership this year was with Sacred Heart Primary School , a school in the heart of Barrow that has had to abandon its building on health and safety grounds and at short notice squeeze into buildings and prefabs in the grounds of another school. Art Gene adopted Sacred Heart as our ‘school of the year’ and opened our gallery and Allotment Soup to regular visits throughout the winter, expanding the children’s restricted curriculum and providing creative enrichment experiences. This was one of several schools we worked with.

ART GENE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

X. Outdoor Nature Work

We ran an active public programme throughout the year at Allotment Soup , our Isle of Walney Community Growing Space. Bethan Petitte led weekly volunteer sessions throughout the growing season, February to October, producing a varied crop of organic food. Different volunteers turned the produce into tasty, organic soups in the Nan Tait Centre kitchen.

Our partnership with Furness Refugee Support continued to grow from strength to strength, and we have worked on a weekly basis with a group of approximately 18 asylum-seeking young men who have offered their talents to the site and benefited from supplementing their diets with locally grown organic vegetables. They have taken part in a range of creative workshops offered by our various artists in residence, too.

XI. Sharing and collaboration

Strategic collaboration and outreach work remained a priority for the Company. Maddi Nicholson shared the work of Art Gene with a range of groups throughout the year, including presentations to the University of Cumbria, Coastal North Collective and Lancaster University.

Maddi continued to represent Art Gene on a range of strategic partnership boards and collaborations - Cumbria Arts and Culture Network Board, the Barrow Arts Group, the BarrowFull Board, CVAN, the Earnse Project Governance Board and Barrow’s local listing committee to name some. She received a prestigious invitation to join the selection committee recommending Northern England artists’ work to be considered for the Government Art Collection . Maddi’s recommended artist was subsequently selected and Rebecca Chesney’s work 66 Million is now part of the national collection.

This year Maddi represented Barrow at the anniversary of celebrations of Historic England (HE) in Parliament and took part in a delegation that welcomed the influential HE Place Panel to Barrow. It was a pleasure to host a reception and dinner for the Panel and CEOs from around Cumbria in the Art Gene Gallery, with a menu that included produce from Allotment Soup.

Fundraising and business development

Raising funds to support our work, and diversified our funding base, remained a priority for Art Gene over the year and the accounts reflect our successes. We have diversified our corporate hires income, attracted a corporate donation and launched our new online ‘Charity Shop’, designed to showcase artist multiples from the artists we commission and with whom we partner.

Financial review

The results for the year are summarised in the Statement of Financial Activities (income and expenditure account) on page 8. Income decreased by £72,664 (15.3%) to £403,819, following an unusual project grant year in 2023/24. The largest strand contributing to total incoming resources was the Arts Council England Core grant at £239,957 which was unrestricted income.

Expenditure totalled £358,833, a decrease of £897 (1%). This led to an increase in total fund balances of £44,986/in the year; they now total £241,413, of which is £154,961 is in the General Fund (unrestricted).

It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to approximately three month’s expenditure (other than fundraising and project costs), with an additional £15,000 as a building maintenance or development contingency. The Board considers that reserves at this level will ensure that any liability relating to curtailment or reduction in activity can be managed, or that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. Trustees are exploring the possibility of taking a new lease on Art Gene's premises through a community asset transfer process. They consider it prudent to hold sufficient reserves to match fund a future capital funding bid or to deal with an emergency repair.

Currently this would require reserves of £75,000, compared to the £154,961 unrestricted funds held at the end of the year. The surplus is held as a contingency linked to the ongoing negotiations with the Council about service recharges on the Nan Tait Centre referred to elsewhere in this report.

ART GENE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.

Structure, governance and management

The charity is a company limited by guarantee, not having share capital, and is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 24 February 2002, as amended. It's company registered number is 04359454. On 15 April 2010 the company became a registered charity with a charity number 1135536.

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year were: N Van der Velden

E Speight N McKinnell A Din H Kaur D Haley M Stanton C Davis S Sandford (Appointed 18 December 2024) H Brackston (Appointed 18 December 2024) J Powell (Appointed 18 December 2024)

The Board consists of people with considerable interest and experience in the arts, who are able to draw on their past experiences at a senior level in management, finance, human resource management or strategic planning.

None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.

The Board of trustees (directors) is the responsible body of the organisation, and meets reguarly throughout the year deciding on strategies and exercising management and artistic oversight of the charity. The Board delegates the day to day management of the organisation and the financial control to the Artistic Directors and the Company Secretary.

There are no related parties of the charity.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

D Haley .............................. D Haley (Dec 2, 2025 16:46:16 GMT)

D Haley Trustee Dated: ......................... 02/12/2025

ART GENE LIMITED

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF ART GENE LIMITED

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Art Gene Limited (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.

S Oram

S Oram (Dec 2, 2025 16:48:42 GMT)

S Oram Melville & Co

Chartered Certified Accountant

Unit 17-18, Trinity Enterprise Centre Furness Business Park Ironworks Road Barrow-in-Furness LA14 2PN

Dated: ......................... 02/12/2025

ART GENE LIMITED

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2025
2025
Notes
£
£
Income from:
Donations and grants
3
284,472
105,212
Sales and rentals
4
12,286
-
Investments
5
1,849
-
Total income
298,607
105,212
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
6
221,453
137,380
Total expenditure
221,453
137,380
Net income/(expenditure) and
movement in funds
77,154
(32,168)
Reconciliation of funds:
Fund balances at 1 April 2024
77,807
118,620
Fund balances at 31 March
2025
154,961
86,452		 Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2025
2024
2024
£
£
£
389,684
253,039
202,576
12,286
19,995
-
1,849
873
-
403,819
273,907
202,576
358,833
261,787
97,943
358,833
261,787
97,943
44,986
12,120
104,633
196,427
65,687
13,987
241,413
77,807
118,620		 Total
2024
£
455,615
19,995
873
476,483
359,730
359,730
116,753
79,674
196,427

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

ART GENE LIMITED

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

2025
Notes
£
Current assets
Debtors
13
1,556
Cash at bank and in hand
352,504
354,060
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
14
(112,647)
Net current assets
The funds of the charity
Restricted income funds
15
Unrestricted funds
16		 £
241,413
86,452
154,961
241,413		 2024
£
9,515
267,982
277,497
(81,070)		 £
196,427
118,620
77,807
196,427

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

02/12/2025

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on .........................

D Haley .............................. D Haley (Dec 2, 2025 16:46:16 GMT) D Haley

Trustee

Company registration number 04359454 (England and Wales)

ART GENE LIMITED

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
18
Investing activities
Interest received
Net cash generated from investing
activities
Net cash used in financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		 2025
£
1,849		 £
82,673
1,849
-
84,522
267,982
352,504		 2024
£
873		 £
135,065
873
-
135,938
132,044
267,982

ART GENE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 Accounting policies

Company information

Art Gene Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Nan Tait Centre, Bath Street Entrance, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 5TY.

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.2 Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.3 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives unless the funds have been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the accounts.

1.4 Incoming resources

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

ART GENE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

1.5 Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.

All expenditure is accounted for gross and when incurred. Charitable expenditure includes the costs of all activities carried out, with the exception of the costs incurred for governance purposes.

1.6 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Land and buildings - leasehold 10% straight line Plant and machinery 25% and 33.3% straight line Fixtures, fittings & equipment 25% straight line

1.7 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

1.8 Taxation

The company is not liable to Corporation Tax on any surplus it makes so long as the surplus is used for charitable purposes.

1.9 Funds

Restricted funds represent grants and other income received which can only be expended on specific purposes as defined by the donor.

Unrestricted funds are all other funds held by the charity, including general purpose funds.

ART GENE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

3 Income from donations and grants

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2025
2025
£
£
Donations and gifts
12,015
-
Grants receivable from
core activities
272,457
105,212
284,472
105,212
Grants receivable for core activities
Arts Council England
239,957
-
Westmorland and
Furness Council
32,500
37,274
Lost Shops Project
-
-
Cumbria Action for
Sustainabilty
-
19,045
Natural England
-
12,595
Historic England
-
6,994
Esmee Fairbairn
Foundation
-
19,504
Clement Fields
-
6,500
Cumbria Community
Foundation
-
2,000
Furness Refugee Support
-
1,300
Other
-
-
272,457
105,212		 Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2025
2024
2024
£
£
£
12,015
3,082
-
377,669
249,957
202,576
389,684
253,039
202,576
239,957
239,957
-
69,774
10,000
-
-
-
45,000
19,045
-
-
12,595
-
35,000
6,994
-
-
19,504
-
40,075
6,500
-
-
2,000
-
-
1,300
-
1,990
-
-
80,511
377,669
249,957
202,576		 Total
2024
£
3,082
452,533
455,615
239,957
10,000
45,000
-
35,000
-
40,075
-
-
1,990
80,511
452,533

ART GENE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

4 Sales and rentals

Rent Room hireConsultancy Room hireConsultancy Other
Total		 2024
receivable income
£ £ £ £ £ £
Sales within charitable
activities 2,710 3,545 5,000 1,031 12,286 19,995
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds 2,710 3,545 5,000 1,031 12,286
For the year ended 31 March 2024
Unrestricted funds 2,700 17,295 - - 19,995
Income from investments
Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2025 2024
£ £
Interest receivable 1,849 873

5 Income from investments

ART GENE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

6 Charitable activities

**Direct costs ** Direct costs
2025 2024
£ £
Staff costs 176,172 133,934
Project fees 104,594 142,421
280,766 276,355
Share of support costs (see note 7) 73,933 79,116
Share of governance costs (see note 7) 4,134 4,259
358,833 359,730
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds 221,453 261,787
Restricted funds 137,380 97,943
358,833 359,730
For the year ended 31 March 2024
Unrestricted funds 261,787
Restricted funds 97,943
359,730

ART GENE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

7 Support costs allocated to activities

Basis of allocation
Studio and premises
90% unrestricted
Administration and overheads
90% unrestricted
Governance
100% unrestricted
Governance costs comprise:
Board meetings
Accountancy
Travel
Other		 Total
2025
£
58,913
15,020
4,134
78,067
2025
£
82
3,988
-
64
4,134		 Total
2024
£
54,896
24,220
4,259
83,375
2024
£
111
3,697
391
60
4,259

Premises costs in the year includes a provision for additional service charges of £25,000 in respect of 202425. Premises costs for 2024 includes a provision for additional service charges of £20,000 in respect of 202324 and £5,200 in respect of 2022-23.

8 Net movement in funds 2025 2024
£ £
The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):
Fees payable to the charity's independent examiner:
- for the independent examination of the charity's financial statements 792 732
- for other assurance services 3,196 3,200

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year.

ART GENE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

10 Employees

Number of employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

Administration and finance
Project management
Business development and fundraising
Maintenance
Employment costs
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs		 2025
Number
1
3
1
1
6
2025
£
162,721
9,734
3,717
176,172		 2024
Number
1
3
1
1
6
2024
£
124,712
6,360
2,862
133,934

There were no employees whose annual remuneration was £60,000 or more.

11 Taxation

The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.

12 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets
Land and
buildings -
leasehold
Plant and
machinery
Fixtures,
fittings &
equipment
£
£
£
Cost
At 1 April 2024
165,091
54,961
27,884
At 31 March 2025
165,091
54,961
27,884
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 April 2024
165,091
54,961
27,884
At 31 March 2025
165,091
54,961
27,884
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2025
-
-
-
At 31 March 2024
-
-
-		 Total
£
247,936
247,936
247,936
247,936
-
-

ART GENE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

13
Debtors
Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 2025
£
225
1,331
1,556		 2024
£
9,515
-
9,515

14 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 2025
£
3,316
7,744
56
101,531
112,647		 2024
£
3,197
4,074
56
73,743
81,070

Included within Accruals and deferred income is a provision in respect of additional service charges of £94,595 (2024 - £65,595), of which £29,595 relates to 2021-22 and 2022-23 (2024 - £29,595) notified to the charity in December 2022.

15 Restricted funds

The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.

At 1 April Incoming Resources At 31 March
2024 resources expended 2025
£ £ £ £
118,620 105,212 (137,380) 86,452
Previous year: At 1 April Incoming Resources At 31 March
2023 resources expended 2024
£ £ £ £
13,987 202,576 (97,943) 118,620

ART GENE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

16 Unrestricted funds

The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.

At 1 April Incoming Resources At 31 March
2024 resources expended 2025
£ £ £ £
General funds 77,807 298,607 (221,453) 154,961
Previous year: At 1 April Incoming Resources At 31 March
2023 resources expended 2024
£ £ £ £
General funds 65,687 273,907 (261,787) 77,807

17 Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2025
2025
£
£
At 31 March 2025:
Current assets/(liabilities)
154,961
86,452
154,961
86,452
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2024
2024
£
£
At 31 March 2024:
Current assets/(liabilities)
77,807
118,620
77,807
118,620		 Total
2025
£
241,413
241,413
Total
2024
£
196,427
196,427

ART GENE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

18
Cash generated from operations
Surplus for the year
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities
Movements in working capital:
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase in creditors
Cash generated from operations		 2025
£
44,986
(1,849)
7,959
31,577
82,673		 2024
£
116,753
(873)
(8,395)
27,580
135,065