RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Trustees, Report and Flnanclal Ststements For the year ended 31 December 2025 CHATSWOOD AsATEs Ablngworth New England Lane
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Tritstees, Report and Flnancial Statements For the year ended 31 Dernbel 2025 Contents Page Charity information Trustees, Report 24 Independent Examiner's Report Statement of Financial ArtSvlties Balance Sheet Notes to the Flnancial Statements 8-12
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Trustees, Report and Flnaficlal Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025 Charity Information Trustees; Andrew Stuart David Angell Arabella Ansar Michael 8oyd Catherlne Bruce (from 06-Apr-251 Treasurer: John Phllllps Reglstered Charlty Number: 1175309 Reglstered address: Abingworth New England Lane Rye. East Sussex TN317NT Accountsnts: Chatswood Assoclates Abln8WOrth New En8land Lane Rye, East Sussex TN317NT Maln Bankers: CAF Bank Ltd 25 Klngs Hlll Avenue Kln8s Hlll West Malllng Xent ME19 4JQ
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Trustee¢ report for the year ended 31 December 2025 The Trustees psent their report wlth the financial ststements forthe Charlty for the above period. The financial statements of the charity whlch is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ICIOI have been prepared In accordan wlth the Charltles SORP IFRS1021 'Actountlng and Reportlng by Charltles: Statements of Recommended Prattice" appllcable to charities preparlng their accounts In accordance with Ihe Financial Reportlng Standard appllcable in the UK anfl Republic of Ireland, and the Charlties Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost conventlon. OBJECTS AND ACTivrriES The oblects of the charltable Incorporated orBanisation are to advance education for the public beneflt by promoting and providing opportunities forthe appreclatlon, understanding and enloyment of the arts and In partlcular muslc, opera, dance, fllm, Ilterature and the vlsual arts, through an annual arts festival in and around Rye, and other actlvltles from tlme to tlme. srRucfuRE GOVERNANCE ANO MANAGEMENT Go¥emln8 Docum•nt Rye Art5 Festlval CIO, formerly Rye Arts Fe5tlval, was constltuted by the Constitutlon dated 16 Ortober 2017. The CIO took over from the Rye Arts Festival charlty no 270474 on l January 2018. Appolntm•nt of Trustees The maxlmum number of Trustees Is elght. Trustees serve fof a three.year perlod retlrlng by rotstlon and are declded by the members at Annual General Meetlng. Vacancle5 between AGM5 may be fllled by the existing Trustees. Trustee Inductlon and tr•lnlng New Trustees are provlded wlth Informatlon on structure, bu51ness plans and recent flnandal performance of the CIO and are encouraged to consult wlth the Offlcers to facllltate the understandlnB of their role. Orianlsatlon The Board of Trustees Is responslble for the Management of the ao. It regularly conslders the operatlonal risks that the Charlty faces and Is satlsfled that It has adequate systems In pla to m5nlmlse thelr irnpact. The Board has appoSnted, on an annual basls, a Fest6val Organlslng Commlttee and monltors its MplIanCe wlth 5tandlng order5 and terms of reference. Health & Salety In 2017 the Trustees establlshed a Health and Safety subcommlttee to advlse on pollcy and Implementatlon. All *pproprl•te personnel und¢r80 flrst ald iralnln8, and our Stage Manager nas undergone speciallst Safeguarding tralnln8. All venues used Sn the Festlval are rlsk assessed. The 5ubcommlttee regularly revlew the Insurance pollcy to ensure adequate cover. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE The 54th annual Rye Arts Festlval was a big success, both In the quality and range of Its events and flnanaally, providing a welcome surplu5 whSch contlnues the work of the Trustees, and the Or8anlsln8 Commlttee to repalr the charlty flnances (after the hlts tsken during Covid and the sad death of Queen Ellxabeth 111 and secure the Festival in the medium term future, wlth reserves matchSng the cost of putting on the Festival for one year. So a packed fortnlght of high-quallty events, with the aim to offer something for everyone, Includlng a number of events provided free of charge for the whole communlty to enjoy, was served up.
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Trustees report (contlnued) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Icontinuedl A free concert by the Marsh thoir. led by Carty Bryant, on Thursday 12th September to a tked St Marys Church In Rye provided a curtain raiserto the Festlval. And the openln8weekend featured street entertalners in the centre of Rye offering fvn for all the famlty,. a Captain Pugwash workshop at the St Mary Centre by Isabel Ryan; a soprano singing from the George balcony; the Town Crier, crylng; and Ryebelllon Drummers beatin8 their rhythms. The Classlcal Muslc programme saw the welcome return, as a duo for the first tlme, of Cordella Wllllams and Tamsln Waley-cohen. We were also dellghted to welcome back, for the thlrd tlme and by popular demand, the young Llthuanian pffianlst Gabrlele Sutkute. And heraudlence contSnued to grow as her reputation spreads by word of mouth. For the flrst tlme the young cla55ical gultarist Goncalo Caetano came to Rye and played to a packed room atthe Mermaid. Martln Bruce entertalned a good lunch tlme crowd on the St Marfs orBan; and a productlon of Donluetl's opera Luda DI Lammermoor by Barefoot Opera was well recelved. The'Tradltional and Contemporary, mu51c programme served up the Gamblan kora player Jall Bakary Konteh wlth hls four-piece band,. the hot rhythmic Cubanlcolomblan fuslon sounds of Indlra Roman and her band; the ska and reggae of Intenslfled got the often sedate Rye Community audlence skankln8 early Into thelr set,. and 151e of WSght slbllngs Angellna and JC Grlmshaw showed they deserve exposure beyond Vectls. There was a wlde iangln8 8ooks and Talks programme, wlth hlghlS8hts Includlng bestselllng author Matt Halg,. laln Dale and Peter Tètchell from both sldes of the polltlcal dlvlde,. archaeologry presenter and actor Slr Tony Robin50n,' and Emlly Maltlls, whose se11ut audSence went home extremely happy after an en8a8lng and Snformatlve talk whlch Included background on 'that' Intervlew wlth Andrew Mountbatten-wlndsorl We Cornmemorated the 400 annlversiry of the death of Jacobean playwright John Fletcher (who was born In Rye) and screened 3 performance of Two Noble Kinsmen (which Fletcher co-wrote wlth Wllllam Shakespearel fllmed Ilve at The Globe Theatre In 2018. Rye's top fllm buff, Ollver 8rook5, dellvered an amusln8 Sntroduttlon leatln8 an edSble bootl to Charlle Chaplln's classlc The Gold Rush, flrst released 100 years ago. And 60 years after Its release Drzhlvugo, was glvin8 a de5ervlnB and well-recelved showln8 on the bl8 screen of the Klno. Drama was provlded by the wonderful Hllary Alexander, whose Becomlng Moverlck was a one-woman plav re.imaglnln8 the back story of Mrs Danvers from Rebecca. And Rye Players performed The Trlol.. Murder Aforesold about the trial in Rye of John Breads, the 18 century butcher who kllled the wrong man, with three packed audSences In the Rye Town Hall, Includln8 one for students from Rye Collegel There were the regular ghost and hlstorlcal walks Sn Rye,. cellar tours Sn Winchelsea,. the annual coach tour to selected Romney Marsh churches,. and nature walks In Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Once the Festlval closed the Organlsln8 Cornmittee started work Immedlately on the 2026 Fe5tlval, whlch wlll run from Thursday IO, to Sunday 26 September. In the me3ntlme, the Trustees would like to thank all our Mernbers, whose subscrlptlons provlde such an Important financlal Input * the start of the year, as well as our generous prlvate and corporate sponsors, the buslnesses that advertise in our brochure, the manyvenues In and around Rye, thevolunteers and technicians who make It all happen, the performers, and last but very far from least our audlencesl
RYE ARTS FEsfivAL ao Trustees report (continued) Volunteers Members and Sponsors The Organisers and Trustees of Rye Arts Festival are delighted by and thankful for the loyal support of our Members, Benefactors. sponsors and advertisers whose generosity gives the Festival'5 finances a huge boost before the tickets go on sale and whose contributions allow us to bring world class acts to Rye and charge very reasonable ticket prices, thereby meeting our charitable objectNe of promoting the arts and providing experiences which will encourage people to participate. The Trustees would also like to thank all the members of the Organising Committee and volunteers, without whom we could not put on the festival. FINANCIAL REVIEW The 2025 Festival enabled us to continue to rebuild our reserves thanks to a surplus for the year of £8,212 12024 £9,773). This surplus ha5 meant that the CIO'S reserves have increased to £68,69712024 £60,485), whlch the Trustees believe to be an appropriate level of reserves as it would enable the festival to survive disastrous year should the festival have to be cancelled at the last minute. Reserves Polkv The policy of the Trustees is to maintain sufficient reserves, which in the oplnion of the Trustees, allow them to cover management and admlnistration costs and plan for future years, Festivals. Investment powers and pollcy The Trust Deed authorised the Trustees to make and hold Investments uslng the General Funds of the CIO. The Trustees having regard to the cash flow requirements of the Charity keep available funds in interest bearing accounts. Trustse5' respon5ibilitles In relatlon to the flnan¢lal ststernents The charlty trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees. annual report and financial statements In accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), for keepin8 proper accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements of the charity comply with Charity Commission guidance and for maintenance and Integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitrfs website. Leglslation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. FUTURE PLANS We contlnue to seek new trustees. The Board will be seeking to broaden audience base and introduce new forms or event which wlll help achleve an increase in revenue. The Trustees are keen to develop the membership base and to Increase invOeMent by them in the Festival. APPROVAL This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf. Andrew Stuart, Trustee 11 February 2026
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Independent Examlners Report to the Trustees I report on the unaudlted account5 of the charlty for the year ended 31 December 2025 set out on pa 6 to 12. Rospectlye ResponslbllFtles of the Trustses ènd the Independent Examlner The charivs trustees are responsible for the Preparation of the accounts. The charltls trustees conslder that an audlt Is not required tor this period under settlon 144121 of the Charities Act 2011lthe 2011 Attl and that an independent examlnatlonls needed. It Is my respon5ibillty to: examine the accounts lunder sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act tollow the procedures laid down in the general Dirertlons glven by the Charity Commlssion lundersectlon 14515llbl of the 2011 Act, and state whether partlcular matters have come to my attentlon. Basls of Indwnd•nt Examln¢r's Report My examlnatlon was carrled out In accordance with the general Dlrectlons glven by the Charity Commis510n. An examlnatlon includes a review of the actountlng records kept by the charity and a comparlson of the accounts presented wlth those records. It also Includes conslderatlon of 8ny unusual Item5 or dlsclosures In the accounts and seeklng explanatlons from you as trustee5 concernlng any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evldente that would be requlred In an audit and consequently no oplnlon Is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair vlew,, and the report Is Ilmlted to those matters Is set out In the statement below. Independ•nt Eyamln•r's Stst•mont In connectlon wlth my examlnation, no matter has come to my attentlon: 111 whlch gjves me reasonable cause to belleve that In ?ny materlal respect the requlrements,. to keep a¢countln8 record5 in accordance wlth 5ectlon 130 of the 2011 Act,. and to prepare accounts whlch accord wlth the accountlng records and comply wlth the accounting requlrements of the 2011 Art have not been met,. or 121 to whlch, In my oplnion, attention should be drawn In order to enable a proper under5tandln8 of the attounts to be reached. Davld Andrews ACIB, MCICM, Fcr Chatswood Assoclates Ablngworth New England Lane Rye, East Sussex, TN317NT 9 February 2026
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Slatement of Hnancial Athiti for the year ended 31 December 2025 unTeStrfrt Funds 2024 Inc4XnO: Donations charfta1e actlvltles 17,773 62.269 9.225 56.341 Investment Income Membershlps 1.518 5.584 1,580 5,905 Tot*1 InMm• 87,144 73.051 Expendlture: Charitable Activitte5 78.932 63,278 Total •xp•ndltuM 78.932 Net Incomel {expendltur•} belnl net movom•nt of fundsforth• prfod 8.212 9,773 Rocondllatlon of fvnds Totsl fund$ bmulht forward •t l n•ry 60,485 50.712 Totsl fvnds carrfed fonmard •t 31 Oec•mb•r 68,697 60,485 The accompanyOn8 notes fomi part ofthese finandal ststements.
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2025 2025 2024 Fixed assets io Current assets Debtors li 128 8,5LKI 112,480 Cash at bank 14 106,291 106.419 120,980 Current Ilablllties Creditors 12 37.722 37,722 60,495 60,495 Net current assets 68,697 60,485 Totsl assets less current Ilabllltles 68,697 60,485 Funds Unrestricted funds 15 68,697 60,485 Approved by the Board of Trustees on 11 February 2026 and signed on its behalf by Andrew Stuart. Trustee The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Notes to the thandal statemerts for the ended 31 December 2025 Accountlng Poll¢les 1.1 Bas1$ of preparathjn of accounts The financlal statements of the charlty. whith is a pUtlC benefft entity under FRS102, have been prepared In accordance with the (tharities SORPIFR51021 Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statements of Recommended Practice appllcable to charities Pparing thelr accounts In ccordance wEth the Financial Reporting Standard applicable In the UK and Republlc of Ireland IFRS1021 leffective l January 20151, Financlal Reportlng SLlndard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the UK and Republic of Ireland. and the Charities Act 2011. The Inanclal statements have been prepared under the historlcal cost conventlon. 1.2 Tanilble flxed a5s•ts for use by th• ¢harfty and deprncl•tlon Tangible fixed a55ets costln8 at least E5CK) for use by the charlty are stated at cost less depreclatlon. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to wrlte off the cost or valuatlon of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over the expected useful lives on the following basls.. Equlpment and software 1.3 Income recognltlon polkl•s Items of Income are fecogn15ed and Induded In the olInts when all of the followln8 crlterl are met: The charfty has entttlement to the fvnds any perfomiance condltlons attached to the Itemlsl of Income have been met or are fulty wlthln the control of the tharlty there is suffident certalnty that recelpt of the Income ts considered probable the amount can be measured rellav. 1.4 Int•r•st ree•l¥able Interest on funds held on deposlt Is Included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charlty: thls Is normalty upon notfficatlon of the Interest pald or payable by the bank. - 20% pa stralght Ilne basts 1.5 Fund •ctountln8 Unrestritted funds are ava51able to spend on actlvltles that further any of the purposes of the charlty. 1.6 Expendlture and Irre¢overable VAT Expendlture Is recognised once there Is a legal or construttlve obli8atlon to make a payment to thlrd party. it 15 probable that settlement wlll be r&qulr•d, and the mgynt of th obll6atlon can be measured reliabty. Expendlture is datrIed under the followlng actlwty headlng-. Expenditure on charftable acttvlb.es includes the costs ol events and educatlonal artlvltles undertaken to further the purposes of the charlty and thelr associated support costs. Irrecoverable VAT Is charyed 05 a cost a8alnst the actlvty for which the expenditure was Incurred. 1.7 Allocatlon of support Costs Support costs are those function5 that assist the work of the charity but do not dirertly undertske charitable activities. Support costs Include back-offlce costs. finance, and governance costs whlth support the Charty's artistic programmes and activitS.
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Notes to the financlal statements {¢ontlnued) for the year ended 31 December 2025 1.8 Debtors Tracle and other debtors are recognlsed at the settlement amount due after any trade dlscount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after tsklng account of any trade dlscounts due. 1.9 Cash at b•nk and In hand Cash at bank and cash in hand Includes cash and short term hlghly liquid investments with short maturity of one yearor lesslrom thedate of acqulsbtlon or openlng of the deposR or similar account. 1.10 Credltors •nd provlslons Credltors and provisions are recognised where the charlty has a present obllgatlon resultlng from a past event that wlll probably result In the transfer of fund5 to a thlrd party and the amount due to settle the obllgation can be measured or estlmated rellably. Credltors and provision5 are normally reco8nlsed at thelr settlement amount after allowlng for any trade dlscounts due. 1.11 Flnanclal Instruments The charity only had financlal a55ets and flnan¢lal Ilabllltles of a klnd thatquallfy as ba51cflnanclal Instruments. Ba51c flnanclal Instruments are Inltlally recognlsed at transattlon value and subsequently measured at thelr settlement value. 1.12 Volunteers The Festival Is run almost entlrely by unpald volunteers and thelr input contlnue5 to be a key element In the Festlval's ablllty to control expenditure. Oonatlons 2025 2024 Sponsorshlp Donations Glft clalmed 13,680 470 3,623 17,773 6,530 550 2,145 9,225
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Notes to the financial ststements Icontlnuedl for the year ended 31 D¢¢ember 2025 2025 2024 Charftable a¢tfvltle$ Income ricket and programme sales Bars Inetl Advertlslng revenue Other Income Totsl income 53,352 1,962 6,360 595 48,054 1,897 6.390 62,269 56.341 Less expendlture Dlrett cost of events Lleder Illms Other Festlval expenses Prlntlng and desi8n Publlclty expenses Other cos15 Inon-festlvall Total expendlture Net Income/lttsstsl Festlval 5ponsorshlp (note 21 Festlval surplusl Ideflcltl 45,404 8,500 45 9,339 7,319 347 36,377 128 9,658 7,849 319 70,954 18,6851 13,680 4,995 54,331 2,010 6,530 8,540 Expendlture Dlrect costs Governance costs Inote 61 Support costs (note 51 70,954 70 7,908 78,932 54,331 391 8,556 63,278 Membershlp and support costs Stationery and postage Webslte costs Subscriptions and sundry expenses Insurance Travel costs Accountancy Telephone Bank charges Depreclation 17 3,515 li 3,854 303 2,375 2,317 750 750 80 1,229 88 1,175 7,908 8,556 io
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Notes to the flnanclal statements Icontlnued) for the ar ended 31 December 2025 Governance costs 2025 2024 Committee expen5e5 AGM costs 70 391 70 391 Staff costs No staff were employed durlng the year and therefoTe no staff remuneratlon was paid. Trustees, expenses There were no Trustee expenses durlng the period. Related party transactlons There were no related party transactions durlng the year. 10 Flxed assets for use by the Charlty All flxed assets have been fully depreclated and consldered to have no value. 11 Debtors 2025 2024 Trade debtors Prepayments Glft A5d 517 3891 128 8,500 8,500 12 Sundry tredltors 37,722 37.722 60,495 60,495 13 Investment In¢ome All of the charlty's Investment Income arlsès frorn money held In Interest bearing deposit accounts. li
RYE ARTS FESTIVAL CIO Notss to the Ilnandal statements Icontinued) for the ended 31 December 2025 14 Cash at bank and In hand 2015 2024 CAF Bank Uoyds Bank Paypal Cash in hand 74.528 30,884 879 54,657 57,106 717 106.291 112,480 15 Analysis of charitable fvnds Analysls of movements in unrestrtrted fvnd5 FwKls at 01-Jan•25 Funds •t Incom• EXdIture 31-Detr25 General Fund 60,485 87,144 178,9321 68,697 16 Taxatlon As a reglstered char, the Festlval Is exempt from tsx on charltsble attivlty. 12