## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From** 01 April 2024 **Period start date To** 31 March 2025 **Period end date**
**Charity name:** KARST
**Charity registration number:** 1157242
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|1.
To promote art and to advance education in
the arts for the benefit of the public by the
establishment and maintenance of an art
gallery, artist studios and project space.
2.
To establish outreach projects in order to
harness further engagement with our local
communities.
3.
To provide a creative hub for local
contemporary artists to develop their creative
and professional practice.
4.
To illuminate, expand and drive engagement
in contemporary art practice, for the benefit of
the public.
5.
To develop KARST’s profile through curating
an exhibition programme that identifies and
sets international agendas and trends within
contemporary art practice.
6.
To operate as an important and essential
example of a contemporary visual arts
initiative principally in the South West of
England.
7.
To exist and operate as an independent, artist
led visual arts project space.
8.
To open and maintain a bank account or bank
accounts in the name of the Charity.
9.
To enter into agreement with artists, curators,
writers, galleries and other creative
contributors.
10. To employ and remunerate such staff as are
necessary for the carrying out of the work of
the Charity. The Charity may employ or
remunerate a director only to the extent it is
permitted to do so by these articles and
provided it complies with the conditions of
article 49(2).
11. Subject to such consents as may be required
by law, to purchase, take on lease or in
exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any real
or personal property and any rights or
privileges which the Charity may think
necessary for the promotion of its objects;
and to construct, maintain and alter any
buildings or erections necessary for the work
of the Charity.
12. To undertake and execute any charitable
trusts which may lawfully be undertaken by
the Charity and may be necessary for its
objectives.|
|||13. Subject to such consents as may be required
by law, to sell, let, mortgage, dispose of or
turn to account all or any of the property or
assets of the Charity as may be thought
necessary for the promotion of its objectives.
In exercising this power, the Charity must
comply, as appropriate, with sections 117 and
122 Charities Act 2011.
14. Subject to such consents as may be required
by law, to borrow or raise money for the
purposes of the Charity on such terms and on
such security as may be thought fit. The
Charity must comply as appropriate, with
sections 124 to 126 Charities Act 2011 if it
wishes to mortgage land.
15. To invest the monies of the Charity not
immediately required for its purposes in or
upon such investments, securities or property
as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless to
such conditions (if any) and such consents (if
any) as may for the time being be imposed or
required by law and subject also as
hereinafter provided.
16. To establish and support or aid in the
establishment and support of any charitable
Companies or institutions and to subscribe or
guarantee money for charitable purposes in
any way connected with the purposes of the
Charity or calculated to further its objectives
(to acquire, merge with or to enter into any
partnership or joint venture arrangement with
any other charity).
17. To do all such other lawful things as shall
further any or all of the above objectives.
18. To procure to be written, printed, published
and issued gratuitously or otherwise such
papers, books, pamphlets or other documents
as shall further the above objectives.
19. To pay out of the funds of the Charity the
costs of forming and registering the Charity as
a charity.|
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The reason for which the Charity is established is
to advance the arts for public benefit by the
promotion and education, in particular but not
exclusively, of contemporary art for the benefit of
the public. It also establishes outreach projects
in order to harness further engagement with local
communities to promote art and to advance
education in the arts for the benefit of the public
by the establishment and maintenance of an art
gallery, artist studios and project space.
KARST gallery delivers regional, national and
international cutting edge contemporary art
exhibitions and event projects, all offering a
variety of artistic content and audience
engagement. We curate and deliver high profile
on and off-site exhibitions & project work with
ambitious, experimental international artists &
curators to programme challenging, critically
engaging work.
KARST studio complex provides a creative hub
for local artists who are in varying stages of their
careers, ranging from graduate, emerging, mid,
and established artists, topromote and develop|
their creative and professional practice for a minimum of a six-month period. Studios provide affordable space for up to eighteen local contemporary visual artists; delivering a series of crits every four months, and new digital critiques with other UK studio spaces. The studios operate as a collective of ambitious artists, with an ethos to share knowledge, skills & opportunities. Studio artists have worked & exhibited regionally, nationally & internationally. KARST has a talent development programme to support the vibrant and diverse Contemporary arts sector in Plymouth. Studio Residency Programme - Annual Studio Residency programme that includes artist residencies in partnership with CAMP and Sudio.KIND, graduate artist residency with Bath Spa University and Arts University Plymouth and KARST gallery programme artists. Test Space - a programme strand that utilised the gallery space between exhibitions with fast turn around projects, often run in partnerships. Fenster Space - a new space dedicated to host learning and engagement workshops and for studio artists to test, display and show their work. Project Assistant/Internships/Volunteer - Create opportunities to share and exchange specialist knowledge, collaboration skills and peer to peer support through a programme of work opportunities. City Partnerships - KARST collaborates with visiting exhibition artists/curators to facilitate one-to-ones and studio visits. KARST collaborated & worked in partnership with Plymouth Culture (PC), The Box, Plymouth City Council (PCC), Arts University Plymouth (AUP), University of Plymouth (UoP), CAMP, Plymouth Art Weekender, Millfields Inspired and the city NPO Stakeholder Group to capitalise on cross-city exhibition programming to ensure increased capacity, develop audiences, promote cohesion & extend outreach & engagement. National Partnerships - KARST collaborates with regional and national programme partners for both studios and exhibitions. KARST collaborated and worked in partnership with New Contemporaries (London), Outlands Network, Studio.KIND (North Devon), Bath Spa University, Southwark Park Galleries (London), The
|||Bluecoat (Liverpool), and the University of
Brighton Gallery.
KARST has a key strategic role to play within
Plymouth & continues to work in partnership with
key stakeholders to collectively deliver a
collaborative & cohesive approach to developing
& maintaining a rich & valued cultural offer within
the City & to support the Plymouth Culture
Strategy & Visual Arts Plan.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The KARST trustees have all had regard to the
guidance issued by the Charity Commission on
public benefit.|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
## **Achievements and Performance**
SORP reference
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|KARST operates as a fully-functioning, physically
accessible, secure, and environmentally
responsible cultural space. The organisation
continues to provide conditions that retain and
attract leading artists, expand commissioning and
participation opportunities, grow audiences,
increase income generation, and raise its
regional and national profile.
**Creative Programme**
**Exhibitions**
**Everything That Happens Will Happen Today**
(25 May – 20 July 2024) brought together
painters Bernadette Kerrigan, Chris Martin,
Daniel Pettitt, and EJ Hauser to explore how
painting can interpret the world through distinct
visual languages. Supported by Arts Council
England, Timothy Taylor, and Haverkampf
Leistenschneider (Berlin), with in-kind transport
support, the exhibition toured to the University of
Brighton Gallery (Aug–Sept 2024).
**Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2024**(28
Sept – 7 Dec 2024) marked 75 years of New
Contemporaries, featuring 35 emerging UK
artists selected by Liz Johnson Artur, Permindar
Kaur, and Amalia Pica. Presented across three
Plymouth venues, KARST, MIRROR, and The
Levinsky Gallery. The exhibition returned to
Plymouth for the first time in 60 years. London
partner: Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA),
Jan–Mar 2025.
**Debjani Banerjee: Jalsaghar**(1 Mar – 26 Apr
2025) explored identity, culture, and belonging
through a British Bengali lens, including an artist
talk with Dan Brown (Curator of Research,
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop) and a KARST x
SOAK music event (4 Apr 2025).
**British Council Arts Digital Collaboration**
**Fund Project**(Apr 2024 – Mar 2025) continued
research into developing a digital platform to
preserve and reinterpret Highlife music for
audiences in Ghana and internationally.
**Projects and Events**
**The Joyous Thing #5**(4–6 Apr 2024), delivered
with Outlands, offered experimental music, talks,
and workshops promoting collaboration and
equal access.
**Radical Ecology: Where Do We Go When We**
**Realise That We Can’t Go Back to Nature?**(19
July 2024) explored ecological and cultural
narratives through participatory performance.
**Polygon Palm: Rolodex Propaganda**(18–27
Apr 2024), led by studio holder Tom Milnes,
examined NetArt, digital ethics, and propaganda
across physical and online spaces. propaganda
withinphysicaland online spaces.|
|---|---|---|
**Test Space Programme** KARST’s Test Space Programme supported experimentation and early-stage practice through exhibitions and residencies: **Fenster and UNDER Spaces:** Public presentations by studio holders and AUP students, including _My Father’s Daughter_ by UNDER, exploring women’s visibility in art. **Annual AUP Test Space Residency:** (3–10 May 2024) enabled second-year students to test exhibition methods and host a public showing. **CAMP x KARST x AUP Residency:** Artist Sarah Brittain Edwards presented an end-of-residency installation (27–29 June). **NKOTB (New Kids On The Block):** (27 Sept – 6 Oct 2024) showcased KARST studio artists in a collective exhibition alongside New Contemporaries. **Artist Studios and Residencies** In 2024/25, KARST hosted 22 artists across 20 studios, providing a creative hub for professional development, critique, and collaboration. Studio artists benefited from talks with exhibiting artists and curators, peer critique sessions, and access to visiting graduates and interns. Partnerships continued with Studio.KIND (North Devon) and Harbour House (Kingsbridge). Laura Porter selected Tom Milnes for the Studio KIND x KARST exhibition _Scanitas_ (Feb–Mar 2025), to be further developed at KARST (Sept 2025). Residencies included: **Arts & Place with Dartington Trust** (3–16 Apr 2024): hosted Catherine Field, with critique sessions by Dr. Jo Joelson, Ben Borthwick, and Donna Howard. **CAMP x KARST x AUP Residency:** Sarah Brittain Edwards (Apr–Jun 2024). **Graduate Residency (AUP & Bath Spa University):** (Oct 2024 – Mar 2025) featuring Jemima Mansell (AUP) and Maisie Timney (BSU), culminating in a public presentation in Fenster space (1–8 Mar 2025).
## **Engagement and Outreach**
**After the Riots** (19 Oct 2024), delivered with Radical Ecology, brought together civic and cultural leaders to reflect on far-right protests and the role of art in addressing social division. **KARST x Millfields Inspired: Widening Horizons** engaged Year 5 pupils from Cathedral School of St Mary in workshops led by artist Tressa Thomas, culminating in a young artist/ curator exhibition at KARST. **Wonderzoo Networking Event** (4 Nov 2024), supported by Plymouth Culture and POP, invited
local artists and audiences to share ideas for Plymouth’s cultural future through performances, readings, and film. **Equality, Diversity and Inclusion** KARST maintained its commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion across all areas of its work. NPOs continued to use the Global Majority Accountability Commitment Tables as living documents, reviewed quarterly. **Courageous Conversations** (Nov 2024 – Jan 2025), facilitated by Léa Guzzo, supported staff and partners in developing a deeper understanding of intersectionality and practical approaches to embedding inclusive practices. **The KARST x Go South West EDI Collaboration** : KARST partnered with City Bus (Go South West) to deliver _Creating Inclusive Spaces in Plymouth: Empowering Allyship_ , facilitated by Léa Guzzo. The programme explored how allyship and collaboration could foster safer, more welcoming environments. Two workshops brought together KARST staff, Trustees, contemporary artists, and community partners to share perspectives and develop practical actions for inclusion. Participants focused on strengthening allyship, improving communication, and identifying opportunities for artist-led engagement in civic and community contexts. The collaboration supported cross-sector learning and contributed to KARST’s ongoing development of inclusive practices, reflecting the shared values of both organisations: that everyone they work with and serve should feel safe, respected, and welcome. **Creative Conversations** (27 Mar 2025, Market Hall) invited stakeholders to discuss “What are we going to do about culture in Plymouth?” using Open Space Technology (OST) facilitated by Improbable. **Internships, Volunteers, and Professional Development** KARST’s partnership with Arts University Plymouth (AUP) continues to integrate students through a structured volunteer induction system. In 2024/25, 24 volunteers supported exhibition installations alongside professional technicians, and four paid project assistants contributed to key programme delivery. Volunteer feedback is actively sought through social and sharing events to enhance development opportunities.
**Strategic Partnerships and Civic Role** KARST continues to play a key strategic role in Plymouth’s cultural ecosystem, supporting the city’s Culture Strategy and Visual Arts Plan through collaboration with partners including New Contemporaries, Southwark Park Galleries, Bluecoat Gallery, Plymouth Culture, The Box, Arts University Plymouth, University of Plymouth, Plymouth City Council, and the Plymouth NPO Key Stakeholder Group. All KARST exhibitions remain free, with events either free or low-cost to ensure accessibility and inclusivity across cultural, educational, and community audiences.
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||||
|---|---|---|
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41||
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||
||||
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The Charity is in a good financial position. We
have secured Funding from Arts Council England
National Portfolio Organisation grants 2023-2026.
This ensures the charity has operational funds to
continue to operate securely for the foreseeable
future.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|As of the 1st Apr 2025 we held £30K reserves. It
is company policy to maintain sufficient funds to
cover 3 months operational costs and to deliver
the current programme of work.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£32K|
|---|---|---|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22||
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|None of the charity's funds at the end of the
financialyear were in deficit.|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|There are no uncertainties about the charity
moving forward as a going concern.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|Arts Council England National Portfolio
Organisation funding.
Earned Income: Studio hire and gallery hire.
Other grant income: Creative Programme.|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46||
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46||
|Other|||
||||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Memorandum & Articles of Association of
KARST|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Charity Incorporated Organisation|
|
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Appointed - Executive Director and Trustees will
look to appoint a new trustee when a specific
area of expertise is required and/or when a
person is recognised to be of significant benefit to
KARST and its core aims and objectives.
Executive Director and Trustees will make a
named recommendation at programmed KARST
Board Meetings.|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||||
|---|---|---|
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51||
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51||
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51||
|Other|||
||||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|KARST|
|---|---|
|
Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1157242|
|
Charity’s principal address|22 George Place, Plymouth PL1 3NY|
|||
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**
**Name of**
**person (or**
**body)**
**entitled to**
**appoint**
**trustee (if**
**any)**|
|---|---|---|---|
||Nicholas Buckland|||
||Mark Cotton|||
||Azza Gasim|||
||Wes Gilpin|||
||ChristyJohnson|||
||Merrydith Russell|||
||Richard Sobey|||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
|Description of the assets
held in this capacity|N/A|
|---|---|
|Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects|N/A|
|Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own assets|N/A|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Type of adviser Name**
**Address**||||
||**Accountancy**|Luke Hardacre|Precise Accountants Ltd,Unit 4 Seaton Park, 36 William
Prance Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5WR|
||**Banking and**
**Finance**|Branch Manager|
Natwest, 14 Old Town Street, Plymouth, PL11DG|
|||||
|||||
|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**||||
|||||
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s)** Nicholas Brian Buckland OBE ~~ee~~ **Position (eg Secretary,** Chair **Chair, etc)** ~~ee~~ **Date** 24th October 2025 ~~TT~~
## **KARST**
## **Charity No. 1157242**
**Company No. CE038678**
**Trustees' Report and Unaudited Accounts**
**31 March 2025**
**KARST Contents**
||Pages||
|---|---|---|
|Trustees' Annual Report||2|
|Independent Examiner's Report||3|
|Statement of Financial Activities||4|
|Summary Income and Expenditure Account||5|
|Balance Sheet||6|
|Notes to the Accounts|7 to|15|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|16 to|17|
Page 1
Trustees Annual Rep
The trustees. who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2IX)6,
present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31
March 2025.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRAThIE DEfAILS
Company No. CE038678
Charlty No. 115n42
Reglstered oFfKe
22 George Place
Stonehouse
Plymouth
Devon
PLI 3NY
Dlrectors and Trustees
The Directors of the charitable company are its Trustees for the purposes of tharity law.
The following Dirertors and Twstees ser¥ed during the year.
N.B. Buckland
M.A. Cotton
A. Gasim
W.L. Gilpin
C.A. Johnson
M.G. Russell
R. Sobey
(Resigned 16 June 20251
Accountants
Precise Accountants Ltd
Unit 4 Seaton Park
36 William pran Road
Derriford
Plymouth
PL6 5WR
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at
any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements
comply wtth the Companies Act 21M)6. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguardin8 the assets of the
charity and hence tsking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The above report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to
the small companies regime as Set out in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2CM)6 and in accordance with the
Charities SORP {FRS 102).
Signed on behal
of the board
N.B. Buckland
Trustee
24 October 2025
Page 2
**KARST Independent Examiners Report**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of KARST**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the financial statements of KARST for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees of the company (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 ('the 2006 Act.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the Charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's financial statements as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the 2006 Act ; or
- the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
- the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements under section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the financial statements give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
- the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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.
Mr Lee James Hardacre FCCA/FMAAT Precise Accountants Ltd Unit 4 Seaton Park 36 William Prance Road Derriford Plymouth PL6 5WR 24 October 2025
Page 3
**KARST**
**Statement of Financial Activities**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**Notes**
**Income and endowments**
**from:**
Donations and legacies
4
Charitable activities
5
Other trading activities
6
Investments
7
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
8
Other
9
**Total**
Net gains on investments
**Net (expenditure)/income**
10
Transfers between funds
**Net (expenditure)/income**
**before other gains/(losses)**
**Other gains and losses**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
159,840
1,030
30,333
658|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
-
-
-
-|**Total funds**
**2025**
**£**
159,840
1,030
30,333
658|**Total funds**
**2024**
**£**
175,475
345
30,346
627|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||191,861
29,648
175,815|-
3,000
-|191,861
32,648
175,815|206,793
32,601
172,851|
||205,463
-|3,000
-|208,463
-|205,452
-|
||(13,602)
-|(3,000)
-|(16,602)
-|1,341
-|
||(13,602)|(3,000)|(16,602)|1,341|
||(13,602)
51,540|(3,000)
17,682|(16,602)
69,222|1,341
67,881|
||37,938|14,682|52,620|69,222|
Page 4
**KARST Summary Income and Expenditure Account**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2025**
|Income
Interest and investment income
**Gross income for the year**
Expenditure
Depreciation and charges for
impairment of fixed assets
**Total expenditure for the year**
Net (expenditure)/income before tax
for the year
**Net (expenditure )/income for the year**|**2025**
**£**
191,203
658
191,861
194,261
14,202
208,463
(16,602)
(16,602)|**2024**
**£**
206,166
627|
|---|---|---|
|||206,793|
|||191,250
14,202|
|||205,452|
|||1,341|
|||1,341|
Page 5
KARST
Baknce Sheet
at 31 March 2025
Company No. CE038678
2025
2024
Flxed assets
Tangible assets
12
356,793
356.793
370.995
370.995
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
13
1,506
61.923
63.429
(31,837)
31.592
3.056
71.383
74,439
128.0111
46.428
Creditors: Amount falling due within one year
14
Net current assets
Total assets less current Ilabllltles
388.385
{335,765)
52.620
417,423
Credltors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
Net assets exduding pension asset or liability
15
{348.2011
69.222
Total net assets
52.620
69.222
The fund5 of the charlty
Restrirted funds
Restricted income funds
16
14.682
14.682
17.682
17.682
Unrestrlcted funds
Designated funds
16
37,938
51.540
37.938
51.540
ReseNes
16
Total funds
52,620
69,222
These accounts have been prepad in accordance with the S1ClaI pro¥isions of Part 15 of the Companies
Act 2LI)6 relating to sm311 companies.
For the year ended 31 Marth 2025 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the
Companies Act 21J06 relatin8 to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the
Companies Art 2CKJ6.
The dirertors acknowled8e their responsibilities for complyin8 With the requirements of the Companies Art
2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
Approved by the board on 24 Ortober 2025
And signed on its beh
N.B. 8uckland
Trustee
24 Ortober 2025
Page 6
**KARST**
**Notes to the Accounts**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2025**
- 1 **Accounting policies**
## **Basis of preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
## **Change in basis of accounting or to previous accounts**
There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and method of accounting) since last year and no changes have been made to accounts for previous years.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds These are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objects of the charity.
Designated funds These are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes. Revaluation funds These are unrestricted funds which include a revaluation reserve representing the restatement of investment assets at their market values. Restricted funds These are available for use subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or through terms of an appeal.
## **Income**
Recognition of Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity income becomes entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and the amount of the income can be measured with sufficient reliability. Income with related Where income has related expenditure the income and related expenditure is expenditure reported gross in the SoFA. Donations and Voluntary income received by way of grants, donations and gifts is included in the legacies the SoFA when receivable and only when the Charity has unconditional entitlement to the income.
Tax reclaims on Income from tax reclaims is included in the SoFA at the same time as the donations and gifts gift/donation to which it relates. Donated services These are only included in income (with an equivalent amount in expenditure) where and facilities the benefit to the Charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material.
Volunteer help The value of any volunteer help received is not included in the accounts. Investment income This is included in the accounts when receivable. Gains/(losses) on This includes any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at revaluation of fixed the end of the year. assets Gains/(losses) on This includes any gain or loss on the sale of investments. investment assets
Page 7
**KARST Notes to the Accounts**
## **Expenditure**
Recognition of Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis. Expenditure includes any VAT which expenditure cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Expenditure on These comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income, fundraising raising funds trading costs and investment management costs. Expenditure on These comprise the costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities and charitable activities services in the furtherance of its objects, including the making of grants and governance costs.
Grants payable All grant expenditure is accounted for on an actual paid basis plus an accrual for grants that have been approved by the trustees at the end of the year but not yet paid.
Governance costs These include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the Charity, including any audit/independent examination fees, costs linked to the strategic management of the Charity, together with a share of other administration costs.
Other expenditure These are support costs not allocated to a particular activity.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
30 Years% Over the term of
Leasehold property
the lease
Studio Equipment 33% Straight Line
Fixtures, fittings and
33% Straight Line
equipment
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Freehold investment property**
Investment properties are measured initially at cost and subsequently at fair value at each balance sheet date and are not depreciated. All gains or losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise.
## **Stocks**
Stock is included at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Donated items of stock are recognised at fair value which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay for the items on the open market.
## **Trade and other debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Page 8
**KARST**
**Notes to the Accounts**
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. In the statement of financial position, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings or current liabilities. In the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents are shown net of bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the company's cash management.
## **Trade and other creditors**
Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## **Research and development**
Expenditure on research and development is written off in the year in which it is incurred.
## **Foreign currencies**
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the charity are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing at the end of the reporting period.
Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of the charity are recorded at the rate of exchange on the date that the transaction occurred.
All exchange differences are are taken into account in arriving at net income/expenditure.
## **Leased assets**
Where the charity enters into a lease which entails taking substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset, the lease is treated as a finance lease.
Leases which do not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to charity are classified as operating leases.
Assets held under finance leases are initially recognised as assets of the charity at their fair value at the inception of the lease or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the balance sheet date as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are apportioned between finance expenses and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance expenses are recognised immediately, unless they are directly attributable to qualifying assets, in which case they are capitalised in accordance with the charity's policy on borrowing costs.
Assets held under finance leases are depreciated in the same way as owned assets.
Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In the event that lease incentives are received to enter into operating leases, such incentives are recognised as a liability. The aggregate benefit of incentives is recognised as a reduction of rental expense on a straight-line basis.
## **Pension costs**
The charity operates a defined contribution plan for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the company pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the company has no further payments obligations. The contributions are recognised as expenses when they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals in the balance sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the company in independently administered funds.
Page 9
**KARST Notes to the Accounts**
## **Receipt of donated goods, facilities and services**
All donated goods, facilities and services received are recognised within incoming resources and expenditure at an estimate of the value to the charity.
## 2 **Company status**
The company is a private company limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital.
## 3 **Statement of Financial Activities - prior year**
|**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
Other
**Total**
**Net income**
**Net income before other**
**gains/(losses)**
**Other gains and losses:**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
4
**Income from donations and legacies**
Grants
Capital grant
Additional grant funding|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
175,475
345
30,346
627
206,793
32,601
172,851
205,452
1,341
1,341
1,341
50,199
51,540
**Unrestricted**
**£**
142,577
12,436
4,827
159,840|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
-
-
-
-|
|---|---|---|
|||-
-
-|
|||-|
|||-|
|||-|
|||-
17,682|
|||17,682|
|||**Total**
**2025**
**£**
142,577
12,436
4,827|
|||159,840|
Page 10
## **KARST**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## 5 **Income from charitable activities**
|Philanthropic giving,
fundraising and sponsorship
6
**Income from other trading activities**
Studio Rental
7
**Income from investments**
Bank interest received
8
**Expenditure on charitable activities**
_Expenditure on charitable_
_activities_
Exhibition Costs
Event Costs
Marketing
Digital Calibration Fund
_Governance costs_|**Unrestricted**
**£**
17,526
6,890
5,232
-
29,648|**Unrestricted**
**£**
1,030
1,030
**Unrestricted**
**£**
30,333
30,333
**Unrestricted**
**£**
658
658
**Restricted**
**£**
-
-
-
3,000
3,000|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
1,030|
|---|---|---|---|
||||1,030|
||||**Total**
**2025**
**£**
30,333|
||||30,333|
||||**Total**
**2025**
**£**
658|
||||658|
||||**Total**
**2025**
**£**
17,526
6,890
5,232
3,000|
||||32,648|
Page 11
**KARST Notes to the Accounts**
9 **Other expenditure**
|Employee costs
Motor and travel costs
Premises costs
Amortisation, depreciation,
impairment, profit/loss on
disposal of fixed assets
General administrative costs
Legal and professional costs
10 **Net (expenditure)/income before transfers**
This is stated after charging:
Depreciation of owned fixed assets
11 **Staff costs**
Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs
No employee received emoluments in excess
12 **Tangible fixed assets**
**Land and**
**buildings**
**£**
**Cost or revaluation**
At 1 April 2024
424,444
At 31 March 2025
424,444
**Depreciation and**
**impairment**
At 1 April 2024
53,449
Depreciation charge for the
year
14,202
At 31 March 2025
67,651
**Net book values**
At 31 March 2025
356,793
At 31 March 2024
370,995|of £60,000.
**Studio**
**Equipment**
**£**
14,608
14,608
14,608
-
14,608
-
-|**Unrestricted**
**£**
97,896
1,660
42,549
14,202
12,500
7,008
175,815
**2025**
**£**
14,202
**2025**
93,405
861
3,630
97,896
**TFA 3**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
97,896
1,660
42,549
14,202
12,500
7,008|
|---|---|---|---|
||||175,815|
||||**Fixtures,**
**fittings and**
**equipment**
**£**
6,176|
||||6,176|
||||6,176
-|
||||6,176|
||||-|
||||-|
Page 12
**KARST Notes to the Accounts**
## 13 **Debtors**
|13 **Debtors**||
|---|---|
|Trade debtors
14 **Creditors:**
amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other taxes and social security
Other creditors
Accruals
Deferred income
15 **Creditors:**
amounts falling due after more than one year
Deferred income|**2025**
**£**
1,506|
||1,506|
||**2025**
**£**
7,884
2,490
8,279
748
12,436|
||31,837|
||**2025**
**£**
335,765|
||335,765|
Page 13
**KARST Notes to the Accounts**
## 16 **Movement in funds**
|**Restricted funds:**
**Restricted income funds:**
Digital Calibration Fund
_Total_
**Unrestricted funds:**
**Designated funds:**
Designated Funds
_Total_
**Total funds**|**At 1 April**
**2024**
17,682
17,682
51,540
51,540
69,222|**Incoming**
**resources**
**(including**
**other**
**gains/losses)**
**£**
-
-
191,861
191,861
191,861|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(3,000)
(3,000)
(205,463)
(205,463)
(208,463)|
|---|---|---|---|
Purposes and restrictions in relation to the funds:
|Restricted funds:||
|---|---|
|Digital Calibration Fund|Restricted for the purpose of the Digital Calibration Fund only|
|Designated funds:||
|Designated Funds|General funds held for the charity|
## 17 **Analysis of net assets between funds**
|Fixed assets
Net current assets
Creditors due in more than one year and
provisions|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
356,793
31,592
(335,765)|
|---|---|
||52,620|
## 18 **Reconciliation of net debt**
|Cash and cash equivalents
Net debt|**At 1 April**
**2024**
**£**|**Cash flows**
**£**|
|---|---|---|
||71,383|(9,460)|
||71,383
71,383|(9,460)
(9,460)|
Page 14
**KARST Notes to the Accounts**
## 19 **Commitments**
## _**Operating lease commitments**_
Annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:
|**2025**
**Land and**
**buildings**
**£**
Operating leases with expiry date:
**_Pension commitments_**
The pension cost charge to the company
amounted to:
20 **Related party disclosures**
**_Controlling party_**|**2025**
**2024**
**Other**
**Land and**
**buildings**
**£**
**£**
**2025**
**£**
3,630|
|---|---|
No known controlling party.
Page 15
**KARST**
**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Grants
Capital grant
Additional grant funding
Charitable activities
Philanthropic giving, fundraising
and sponsorship
Other trading activities
Studio Rental
Investments
Bank interest received
**Total income and endowments**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
Exhibition Costs
Event Costs
Marketing
Digital Calibration Fund
PAC Home
**Total of expenditure on charitable**
**activities**
Employee costs
Salaries/wages
Employer's NIC
Pension costs
Motor and travel costs
Travel and subsistence
Premises costs
Rent
Rates
Light, heat and power|**Unrestricte**
**d funds**
**2025**
**£**
142,577
12,436
4,827|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,000
-
3,000
3,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Total funds**
**2025**
**£**
142,577
12,436
4,827|**Total funds**
**2024**
**£**
142,576
12,436
20,463|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||159,840||159,840|175,475|
||1,030||1,030|345|
||1,030||1,030|345|
||30,333||30,333|30,346|
||30,333||30,333|30,346|
||658||658|627|
||658||658|627|
||191,861
17,526
6,890
5,232
-
-||191,861
17,526
6,890
5,232
3,000
-|206,793
27,330
1,310
3,031
-
930|
||29,648||32,648|32,601|
||29,648
93,405
861
3,630||32,648
93,405
861
3,630|32,601
97,142
457
1,443|
||97,896||97,896|99,042|
||1,660||1,660|718|
||1,660||1,660|718|
||17,900
5,634
7,515||17,900
5,634
7,515|16,463
7,202
10,553|
Page 16
**KARST**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**
|Premises repairs and
maintenance
Other premises costs
General administrative costs,
including depreciation and
amortisation
Depreciation of land and
buildings
Depreciation of Studio
Equipment
Depreciation of Fixtures, fittings
and equipment
Equipment repairs and
maintenance
General insurances
Software, IT support and related
costs
Sundry expenses
Telephone, fax and broadband
Legal and professional costs
Accountancy and bookkeeping
Consultancy fees
Other legal and professional
costs
**Total of expenditure of other costs**
**Total expenditure**
Net gains on investments
**Net (expenditure)/income**
**Net (expenditure)/income before**
**other gains/(losses)**
Other Gains
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|11,500
-|-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,000
-
(3,000)
(3,000)|11,500
-|7,722
2,661|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||42,549||42,549|44,601|
||14,202
-
-
1,356
6,001
1,800
865
2,478||14,202
-
-
1,356
6,001
1,800
865
2,478|14,202
-
-
-
5,108
1,830
78
1,521|
||26,702||26,702|22,739|
||2,643
3,170
1,195||2,643
3,170
1,195|2,758
2,700
293|
||7,008||7,008|5,751|
||||||
||175,815||175,815|172,851|
||205,463
-||208,463
-|205,452
-|
||(13,602)||(16,602)|1,341|
||(13,602)
-||(16,602)
-|1,341
-|
|||-|||
||(13,602)|(3,000)
17,682
14,682|(16,602)|1,341|
||51,540||69,222|67,881|
||37,938||52,620|69,222|
Page 17
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From** 01 April 2024 **Period start date To** 31 March 2025 **Period end date**
**Charity name:** KARST
**Charity registration number:** 1157242
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|1.
To promote art and to advance education in
the arts for the benefit of the public by the
establishment and maintenance of an art
gallery, artist studios and project space.
2.
To establish outreach projects in order to
harness further engagement with our local
communities.
3.
To provide a creative hub for local
contemporary artists to develop their creative
and professional practice.
4.
To illuminate, expand and drive engagement
in contemporary art practice, for the benefit of
the public.
5.
To develop KARST’s profile through curating
an exhibition programme that identifies and
sets international agendas and trends within
contemporary art practice.
6.
To operate as an important and essential
example of a contemporary visual arts
initiative principally in the South West of
England.
7.
To exist and operate as an independent, artist
led visual arts project space.
8.
To open and maintain a bank account or bank
accounts in the name of the Charity.
9.
To enter into agreement with artists, curators,
writers, galleries and other creative
contributors.
10. To employ and remunerate such staff as are
necessary for the carrying out of the work of
the Charity. The Charity may employ or
remunerate a director only to the extent it is
permitted to do so by these articles and
provided it complies with the conditions of
article 49(2).
11. Subject to such consents as may be required
by law, to purchase, take on lease or in
exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any real
or personal property and any rights or
privileges which the Charity may think
necessary for the promotion of its objects;
and to construct, maintain and alter any
buildings or erections necessary for the work
of the Charity.
12. To undertake and execute any charitable
trusts which may lawfully be undertaken by
the Charity and may be necessary for its
objectives.|
|||13. Subject to such consents as may be required
by law, to sell, let, mortgage, dispose of or
turn to account all or any of the property or
assets of the Charity as may be thought
necessary for the promotion of its objectives.
In exercising this power, the Charity must
comply, as appropriate, with sections 117 and
122 Charities Act 2011.
14. Subject to such consents as may be required
by law, to borrow or raise money for the
purposes of the Charity on such terms and on
such security as may be thought fit. The
Charity must comply as appropriate, with
sections 124 to 126 Charities Act 2011 if it
wishes to mortgage land.
15. To invest the monies of the Charity not
immediately required for its purposes in or
upon such investments, securities or property
as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless to
such conditions (if any) and such consents (if
any) as may for the time being be imposed or
required by law and subject also as
hereinafter provided.
16. To establish and support or aid in the
establishment and support of any charitable
Companies or institutions and to subscribe or
guarantee money for charitable purposes in
any way connected with the purposes of the
Charity or calculated to further its objectives
(to acquire, merge with or to enter into any
partnership or joint venture arrangement with
any other charity).
17. To do all such other lawful things as shall
further any or all of the above objectives.
18. To procure to be written, printed, published
and issued gratuitously or otherwise such
papers, books, pamphlets or other documents
as shall further the above objectives.
19. To pay out of the funds of the Charity the
costs of forming and registering the Charity as
a charity.|
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The reason for which the Charity is established is
to advance the arts for public benefit by the
promotion and education, in particular but not
exclusively, of contemporary art for the benefit of
the public. It also establishes outreach projects
in order to harness further engagement with local
communities to promote art and to advance
education in the arts for the benefit of the public
by the establishment and maintenance of an art
gallery, artist studios and project space.
KARST gallery delivers regional, national and
international cutting edge contemporary art
exhibitions and event projects, all offering a
variety of artistic content and audience
engagement. We curate and deliver high profile
on and off-site exhibitions & project work with
ambitious, experimental international artists &
curators to programme challenging, critically
engaging work.
KARST studio complex provides a creative hub
for local artists who are in varying stages of their
careers, ranging from graduate, emerging, mid,
and established artists, topromote and develop|
their creative and professional practice for a minimum of a six-month period. Studios provide affordable space for up to eighteen local contemporary visual artists; delivering a series of crits every four months, and new digital critiques with other UK studio spaces. The studios operate as a collective of ambitious artists, with an ethos to share knowledge, skills & opportunities. Studio artists have worked & exhibited regionally, nationally & internationally. KARST has a talent development programme to support the vibrant and diverse Contemporary arts sector in Plymouth. Studio Residency Programme - Annual Studio Residency programme that includes artist residencies in partnership with CAMP and Sudio.KIND, graduate artist residency with Bath Spa University and Arts University Plymouth and KARST gallery programme artists. Test Space - a programme strand that utilised the gallery space between exhibitions with fast turn around projects, often run in partnerships. Fenster Space - a new space dedicated to host learning and engagement workshops and for studio artists to test, display and show their work. Project Assistant/Internships/Volunteer - Create opportunities to share and exchange specialist knowledge, collaboration skills and peer to peer support through a programme of work opportunities. City Partnerships - KARST collaborates with visiting exhibition artists/curators to facilitate one-to-ones and studio visits. KARST collaborated & worked in partnership with Plymouth Culture (PC), The Box, Plymouth City Council (PCC), Arts University Plymouth (AUP), University of Plymouth (UoP), CAMP, Plymouth Art Weekender, Millfields Inspired and the city NPO Stakeholder Group to capitalise on cross-city exhibition programming to ensure increased capacity, develop audiences, promote cohesion & extend outreach & engagement. National Partnerships - KARST collaborates with regional and national programme partners for both studios and exhibitions. KARST collaborated and worked in partnership with New Contemporaries (London), Outlands Network, Studio.KIND (North Devon), Bath Spa University, Southwark Park Galleries (London), The
|||Bluecoat (Liverpool), and the University of
Brighton Gallery.
KARST has a key strategic role to play within
Plymouth & continues to work in partnership with
key stakeholders to collectively deliver a
collaborative & cohesive approach to developing
& maintaining a rich & valued cultural offer within
the City & to support the Plymouth Culture
Strategy & Visual Arts Plan.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The KARST trustees have all had regard to the
guidance issued by the Charity Commission on
public benefit.|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
## **Achievements and Performance**
SORP reference
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|KARST operates as a fully-functioning, physically
accessible, secure, and environmentally
responsible cultural space. The organisation
continues to provide conditions that retain and
attract leading artists, expand commissioning and
participation opportunities, grow audiences,
increase income generation, and raise its
regional and national profile.
**Creative Programme**
**Exhibitions**
**Everything That Happens Will Happen Today**
(25 May – 20 July 2024) brought together
painters Bernadette Kerrigan, Chris Martin,
Daniel Pettitt, and EJ Hauser to explore how
painting can interpret the world through distinct
visual languages. Supported by Arts Council
England, Timothy Taylor, and Haverkampf
Leistenschneider (Berlin), with in-kind transport
support, the exhibition toured to the University of
Brighton Gallery (Aug–Sept 2024).
**Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2024**(28
Sept – 7 Dec 2024) marked 75 years of New
Contemporaries, featuring 35 emerging UK
artists selected by Liz Johnson Artur, Permindar
Kaur, and Amalia Pica. Presented across three
Plymouth venues, KARST, MIRROR, and The
Levinsky Gallery. The exhibition returned to
Plymouth for the first time in 60 years. London
partner: Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA),
Jan–Mar 2025.
**Debjani Banerjee: Jalsaghar**(1 Mar – 26 Apr
2025) explored identity, culture, and belonging
through a British Bengali lens, including an artist
talk with Dan Brown (Curator of Research,
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop) and a KARST x
SOAK music event (4 Apr 2025).
**British Council Arts Digital Collaboration**
**Fund Project**(Apr 2024 – Mar 2025) continued
research into developing a digital platform to
preserve and reinterpret Highlife music for
audiences in Ghana and internationally.
**Projects and Events**
**The Joyous Thing #5**(4–6 Apr 2024), delivered
with Outlands, offered experimental music, talks,
and workshops promoting collaboration and
equal access.
**Radical Ecology: Where Do We Go When We**
**Realise That We Can’t Go Back to Nature?**(19
July 2024) explored ecological and cultural
narratives through participatory performance.
**Polygon Palm: Rolodex Propaganda**(18–27
Apr 2024), led by studio holder Tom Milnes,
examined NetArt, digital ethics, and propaganda
across physical and online spaces. propaganda
withinphysicaland online spaces.|
|---|---|---|
**Test Space Programme** KARST’s Test Space Programme supported experimentation and early-stage practice through exhibitions and residencies: **Fenster and UNDER Spaces:** Public presentations by studio holders and AUP students, including _My Father’s Daughter_ by UNDER, exploring women’s visibility in art. **Annual AUP Test Space Residency:** (3–10 May 2024) enabled second-year students to test exhibition methods and host a public showing. **CAMP x KARST x AUP Residency:** Artist Sarah Brittain Edwards presented an end-of-residency installation (27–29 June). **NKOTB (New Kids On The Block):** (27 Sept – 6 Oct 2024) showcased KARST studio artists in a collective exhibition alongside New Contemporaries. **Artist Studios and Residencies** In 2024/25, KARST hosted 22 artists across 20 studios, providing a creative hub for professional development, critique, and collaboration. Studio artists benefited from talks with exhibiting artists and curators, peer critique sessions, and access to visiting graduates and interns. Partnerships continued with Studio.KIND (North Devon) and Harbour House (Kingsbridge). Laura Porter selected Tom Milnes for the Studio KIND x KARST exhibition _Scanitas_ (Feb–Mar 2025), to be further developed at KARST (Sept 2025). Residencies included: **Arts & Place with Dartington Trust** (3–16 Apr 2024): hosted Catherine Field, with critique sessions by Dr. Jo Joelson, Ben Borthwick, and Donna Howard. **CAMP x KARST x AUP Residency:** Sarah Brittain Edwards (Apr–Jun 2024). **Graduate Residency (AUP & Bath Spa University):** (Oct 2024 – Mar 2025) featuring Jemima Mansell (AUP) and Maisie Timney (BSU), culminating in a public presentation in Fenster space (1–8 Mar 2025).
## **Engagement and Outreach**
**After the Riots** (19 Oct 2024), delivered with Radical Ecology, brought together civic and cultural leaders to reflect on far-right protests and the role of art in addressing social division. **KARST x Millfields Inspired: Widening Horizons** engaged Year 5 pupils from Cathedral School of St Mary in workshops led by artist Tressa Thomas, culminating in a young artist/ curator exhibition at KARST. **Wonderzoo Networking Event** (4 Nov 2024), supported by Plymouth Culture and POP, invited
local artists and audiences to share ideas for Plymouth’s cultural future through performances, readings, and film. **Equality, Diversity and Inclusion** KARST maintained its commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion across all areas of its work. NPOs continued to use the Global Majority Accountability Commitment Tables as living documents, reviewed quarterly. **Courageous Conversations** (Nov 2024 – Jan 2025), facilitated by Léa Guzzo, supported staff and partners in developing a deeper understanding of intersectionality and practical approaches to embedding inclusive practices. **The KARST x Go South West EDI Collaboration** : KARST partnered with City Bus (Go South West) to deliver _Creating Inclusive Spaces in Plymouth: Empowering Allyship_ , facilitated by Léa Guzzo. The programme explored how allyship and collaboration could foster safer, more welcoming environments. Two workshops brought together KARST staff, Trustees, contemporary artists, and community partners to share perspectives and develop practical actions for inclusion. Participants focused on strengthening allyship, improving communication, and identifying opportunities for artist-led engagement in civic and community contexts. The collaboration supported cross-sector learning and contributed to KARST’s ongoing development of inclusive practices, reflecting the shared values of both organisations: that everyone they work with and serve should feel safe, respected, and welcome. **Creative Conversations** (27 Mar 2025, Market Hall) invited stakeholders to discuss “What are we going to do about culture in Plymouth?” using Open Space Technology (OST) facilitated by Improbable. **Internships, Volunteers, and Professional Development** KARST’s partnership with Arts University Plymouth (AUP) continues to integrate students through a structured volunteer induction system. In 2024/25, 24 volunteers supported exhibition installations alongside professional technicians, and four paid project assistants contributed to key programme delivery. Volunteer feedback is actively sought through social and sharing events to enhance development opportunities.
**Strategic Partnerships and Civic Role** KARST continues to play a key strategic role in Plymouth’s cultural ecosystem, supporting the city’s Culture Strategy and Visual Arts Plan through collaboration with partners including New Contemporaries, Southwark Park Galleries, Bluecoat Gallery, Plymouth Culture, The Box, Arts University Plymouth, University of Plymouth, Plymouth City Council, and the Plymouth NPO Key Stakeholder Group. All KARST exhibitions remain free, with events either free or low-cost to ensure accessibility and inclusivity across cultural, educational, and community audiences.
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||||
|---|---|---|
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41||
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||
||||
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The Charity is in a good financial position. We
have secured Funding from Arts Council England
National Portfolio Organisation grants 2023-2026.
This ensures the charity has operational funds to
continue to operate securely for the foreseeable
future.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|As of the 1st Apr 2025 we held £30K reserves. It
is company policy to maintain sufficient funds to
cover 3 months operational costs and to deliver
the current programme of work.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£32K|
|---|---|---|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22||
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|None of the charity's funds at the end of the
financialyear were in deficit.|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|There are no uncertainties about the charity
moving forward as a going concern.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|Arts Council England National Portfolio
Organisation funding.
Earned Income: Studio hire and gallery hire.
Other grant income: Creative Programme.|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46||
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46||
|Other|||
||||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Memorandum & Articles of Association of
KARST|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Charity Incorporated Organisation|
|
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Appointed - Executive Director and Trustees will
look to appoint a new trustee when a specific
area of expertise is required and/or when a
person is recognised to be of significant benefit to
KARST and its core aims and objectives.
Executive Director and Trustees will make a
named recommendation at programmed KARST
Board Meetings.|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||||
|---|---|---|
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51||
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51||
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51||
|Other|||
||||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|KARST|
|---|---|
|
Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1157242|
|
Charity’s principal address|22 George Place, Plymouth PL1 3NY|
|||
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**
**Name of**
**person (or**
**body)**
**entitled to**
**appoint**
**trustee (if**
**any)**|
|---|---|---|---|
||Nicholas Buckland|||
||Mark Cotton|||
||Azza Gasim|||
||Wes Gilpin|||
||ChristyJohnson|||
||Merrydith Russell|||
||Richard Sobey|||
|||||
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
|Description of the assets
held in this capacity|N/A|
|---|---|
|Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects|N/A|
|Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own assets|N/A|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Type of adviser Name**
**Address**||||
||**Accountancy**|Luke Hardacre|Precise Accountants Ltd,Unit 4 Seaton Park, 36 William
Prance Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5WR|
||**Banking and**
**Finance**|Branch Manager|
Natwest, 14 Old Town Street, Plymouth, PL11DG|
|||||
|||||
|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**||||
|||||
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s)** Nicholas Brian Buckland OBE ~~ee~~ **Position (eg Secretary,** Chair **Chair, etc)** ~~ee~~ **Date** 24th October 2025 ~~TT~~