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2025-03-31-accounts

Charity number: 285125

Company number: 01615990

(England and Wales)

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd

Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Contents Page For the year ended 31 March 2025

Report of the Trustees 1
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees 21
Statement of Financial Activities 22
Statement of Financial Position 23
Notes to the Financial Statements 24to31
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 32to33

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements for the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2025. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Name of Charity Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Charity registration number 285125 Company registration number 01615990 Principal address Chisenhale Works 64-84 Chisenhale Road London E3 5QZ

Trustees

The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

Lucy Kennedy (Chair) Sian Harding Isabelle Hancock Sarah Musgrove Michael Regan Nadine Thornton-Dewhirst Kate Hardy (Resigned: 05 December 2024) Julie Baines (Resigned: 05 December 2024) Secretary E Kingston-Hogg A Wakelin Independent examiner Andrew M Wells FMAAT Counterculture Partnership LLP 23 St Leonards Road Bexhill East Sussex TN40 1HH

Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by

............................................................................. 28 November 2025 Lucy Kennedy (Chair)

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

CHISENHALE ART PLACE LIMITED

DIRECTORS' AND TRUSTEES' REPORT

The directors/trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025. The information on page 1 forms part of this report.

DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES

Company Law which is also applicable to charitable companies in England and Wales requires the directors, who are also trustees of the Company, to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the results of the Company for that year.

In preparing those financial statements, the directors/trustees are required to:

The directors/trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In accordance with company law, as the Company's directors we certify that:

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. OBJECTS FOR THE CHARITY

The objects for which the Company is registered are to promote, maintain, improve and advance education for the benefit of the public, particularly by the encouragement of the Arts including the arts of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, design, architecture, printmaking, film, music, singing, poetry, literature, lithography, ballet, dance and drama.

2 . STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governance and Organisation

The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, who served during the year were:

The company is called Chisenhale Art Place and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 22 February 1982. The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The guarantees of individual members are limited to £1. The company is a registered charity (285125).

A Board of Directors is responsible for the Charitable Company's overall management and control. During 2024-25, the Company employed two staff roles, which were held by the following staff members:

Day-to-day running of the Company and operational matters including finance, employment and policy implementation are delegated by the Board and undertaken by the appointed Executive Director. In line with HM Revenue & Customs guidelines, all regular staff are employed on a PAYE basis and the Executive Director prepares the monthly payroll.

Members of Chisenhale Art Place (CAP) include Chisenhale Dance Space, Chisenhale Gallery and 39 individual studio artists who are collectively known as ‘Chisenhale Studios’. Chisenhale Dance Space and Chisenhale Gallery are independently managed member organisations with their own elected Board of Directors. Chisenhale Gallery is a registered charity (1026175) and registered company (02851794). Chisenhale Dance Space is a registered charity (288149) and registered company (1740641). The Studios are directly

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

managed by Chisenhale Art Place, and its artist members contribute to the running of the studios through an annually elected Artist Advisory Committee.

Recruitment and Appointment of new Trustees

The Chisenhale Art Place Board of Directors meet a minimum of four times a year and trustees are actively involved between meetings. All new trustees are identified and subsequently nominated by Members, which includes existing trustees, and voted in at the Annual General Meeting. The Board of Directors is entitled to appoint further trustees after discussion at Board meetings and in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association. One third of Trustees stand-down each year in rotation at the Annual General Meeting and are eligible for re-election unless it is decided that a vacant post will not be filled, or if the trustee has exceeded a tenure of nine years.

Trustees Induction and Training

All potential new trustees are asked to submit a profile of the skills and experience they bring to the Board. They meet with at least two members of the Board before attending at least one board meeting as observers, before being appointed. They are also given the most recent Annual Report and Accounts, other information relevant to the Company, and provided with information about the responsibilities of being a trustee. No formal training is undertaken at that point, but trustees may be expected to take part in training that relates organisational development and growth.

All trustees must agree and sign a Trustee Code of Conduct and sign an annual Declaration of Interests. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. CAP is mindful of diversity and inclusion to create more balanced decision making as per our Equal Opportunities policy and is currently working to diversify the Board, increasing the charity's legitimacy and impact.

Related Parties

The Company has no subsidiaries. The company has a working relationship with London Borough of Tower Hamlets, from whom the Company leases its premises. The Company also has a close working relationship with its two member organisations which are separately constituted: Chisenhale Dance Space and Chisenhale Gallery.

Each member organisation may appoint either a trustee or a senior member of staff to join the Chisenhale Art Place Board of Trustees though in recent years the two organisations prefer to have their senior staff members attend Board meetings in a less formal capacity.

As of July 2025, Chisenhale Dance Space’s permanently employed Executive Director, Reece McMahon, has additionally undertaken the role of Interim Executive Director of Chisenhale Art Place for a fixed period of six months on a freelance basis to aid in ongoing management and transition work. The Board has implemented appropriate governance arrangements to identify and manage any actual or perceived conflicts of interest arising from this concurrent appointment, in line with the Charity Commission’s guidance on trustee and senior management conduct.

3. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY AND MEMBERSHIP

The principal activity of CAP is the provision of affordable workspace for the making, rehearsing, experimenting, and presenting of contemporary art and dance. The occupiers of

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

the workspaces are all members of Chisenhale Art Place. The two member organisations; Chisenhale Gallery and Chisenhale Dance Space, are long established members who hold sub-leases with CAP and are themselves registered charitable companies. Their impact and activity can be found in separate reports below.

The 39 Studio members who make up ‘Chisenhale Studios’, seven of whom are original founding artists, hold licence agreements which govern their participation as members. The agreements also serve to provide long term security to artists, in a sector that all too often provides little assurance of longevity. As individual artist members’ practice and needs evolve, some studios become vacant on average twice a year. Any upcoming vacancies are advertised on a dedicated mailing list of artists seeking a studio with us, which is regularly promoted and always open for new subscribers. Priority is given to applicants struggling to afford a dedicated daily studio practice and who are willing to actively participate in our organisation and contribute to our public benefit. To increase the diversity of studio members, we encourage applications from artists with protected characteristics or from backgrounds currently underrepresented within the sector and affordable studios network.

Applications received are reviewed by a selection committee comprising the Executive Director and a rotation of representatives of the Artist Advisory Committee, before shortlisted artists are invited to interview. We aim to create a fair system for accessing our studios and to provide a vibrancy in artistic activity by members at all stages of their careers. This process is currently under review as we develop a CAP Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

Several studios are also made available on a more temporary and cost-free basis, through Residencies which enhances diversity of artistic exchange and create more opportunities for public engagement with artistic processes.

Public Benefit

The other key activity of CAP is the provision of programmes for public engagement, learning and artistic development. When artists take on a studio, they not only agree to contribute to the running of the collective Studios, but also to contribute to the programme of arts activities delivered in and out of the building with community, educational and other art partners.

Classes, workshops and open studio sharing events promote wider enjoyment and understanding of artistic processes and the benefit of using creativity for wellbeing. Participants in classes and workshops are largely from our local community, but everyone is welcome.

We also run activities to help artists develop their practice and careers. These take the form of short residencies and year-long programmes such as our flagship Into the Wild course (on hiatus in 24-25). The course increasingly attracts very diverse participants and each year the programme grows and evolves.

All activities delivered directly by Chisenhale Art Place are offered at no cost to participants. Artists also run their own courses, which are fee paying, but kept affordable by the free use of our accessible ground-floor Education Studio.

Specifically, Chisenhale Art Place supports its aims by:

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commissions general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities.

4. ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS DURING 2024-25

‘Chisenhale Studios’ Public Programme Activities:

Open Studios

Our annual Open Studios returned in 2024/25, inviting Chisenhale Studio artists to open their doors to the public and share their practice. Open Studios offers a rare opportunity to connect private studio practice with the local community and potential future artists. This year, 583 visitors attended across the weekend.

Open House Festival

Chisenhale Studios partnered with Chisenhale Dance Space to host an Open House Festival Day focused on architecture and heritage, attracting over 150 visitors to explore archival materials and the shared history of the Chisenhale site.

Artist Classes & Workshops

Chisenhale Studio artists frequently run their own classes in the accessible ground-floor education room. Most courses, organised independently by the artists, charge a small fee for materials and instruction though some are free which CAP seeks to further invest in and support. Examples include Kate Hardy’s popular Wednesday evening painting course and Nadine Mahoney’s regular creative fused glass workshops. In December 2024, Nadine specifically ran a workshop for ArtforFun, a charity that supports vulnerable adults in Newham, which supported 30 participants as well as saw us adapt a studio into a prayer room. Many artists also teach at adult learning centres and higher education institutions,

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

deliver workshops at other arts organisations, and lead sessions for all ages, including school groups.

Wider Public Programme:

We continue to work collaboratively across Chisenhale Art Place, planning and delivering our evolving ‘ Future Artists’ Programme’ throughout the year. In 2024– 25, this programme was delivered jointly by the three organisations and financially supported through a collaborative application to Action for Bow. While activities primarily focus on family-friendly creative engagement for residents of Tower Hamlets, everyone is welcome to participate.

Family Open Day

We began the year with a Family Open Day on 18 May 2024, coinciding with CAP’s Open Studios weekend, and welcomed over 355 visitors. Families enjoyed a range of hands-on activities, performances, and opportunities to engage with artists:

The day offered a vibrant mix of creative experiences, making art accessible and engaging for visitors of all ages.

Future Artists Summer School

The Chisenhale Future Artists Summer School, funded by LBTH, engaged 217 young – people aged 11 16 in free creative workshops throughout August 2024. Working with Bromley by Bow Centre and Tower Hamlets Youth League, the programme supported young people facing barriers to arts access. Across five sessions, participants explored pottery, dance, sculpture, t-shirt design, painting, photography, and street dance with artists including Jana Frost, Astha Desai, Renata Minoldo, Cecily Loveys-Jervois, Kirsty Harris, Diana Taylor, Gabby Laurent, and Raincrew. The programme built creative confidence while introducing new audiences to professional artists and cultural spaces in Tower Hamlets.

Chisenhale Summer Street Party

On 19 September 2024, we partnered with the Driffield Conservation Area Residents — Association to deliver the Chisenhale Summer Street Party our largest and most ambitious event in recent years, attracting over 750 attendees, possibly the highest attendance in CAP history. The programme featured a rich mix of dance, music, and visual arts, including:

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

Participant Feedback on the Street Party:

“We loved every moment and all of the input of creativity, rippling through us all… uniting the collective community. It was filled with so much energy and vibrant activity suited for all ages.”

“Chisenhale is a wonderful community hub and an asset to the community.”

“Chisenhale Art Place is part of our community. We are so excited to have this amazing creativity and talent on our doorstep - and to be part of it ourselves.”

Feedback across all events was overwhelmingly positive, describing Chisenhale as “a wonderful community hub,” “an asset to the community,” and “filled with so much energy and vibrant activity suited for all ages.” Participants praised the workshops, perfor mances, and overall atmosphere as “enchanting, inclusive, and beautiful,” with many expressing a desire to return for future events.

Partner Programmes

Chisenhale Art Place collaborates with a range of community-focused organisations, offering our education space to support their programmes and engage local communities. Highlights include:

Through these partnerships, Chisenhale Art Place continues to provide a welcoming space for learning, creativity, and meaningful community engagement.

Organisational Development

Alongside the public benefit delivered through our programme, the Trustees, Members, and staff regularly identify and review opportunities to strengthen the organisation.

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

In 2024 – 25, we continued to enhance collaborative working between Chisenhale Studios, Chisenhale Gallery, and Chisenhale Dance Space. The Future Artists Programme exemplifies the impact we can achieve collectively through shared fundraising and the delivery of local activities in Bow, Tower Hamlets.

This year, we also held two Community Forums - in winter 2024 and spring 2025 — to meet local residents, share our plans for the future, and gather feedback on upcoming initiatives.

To further strengthen collaboration across Chisenhale Art Place, the Chairs of Boards and Executive Directors group meets regularly to address issues affecting all areas of the organisation, including governance and the long-term future of the building.

We are looking to build on this joined-up approach by exploring:

Organisational policies relating to human resources, financial management, EDI and space usage have all been under the process of development and implementation throughout the year, in conjunction with the Artists Advisory Committee, Chairs and Directors Group and the Board of Trustees. We continue to explore the development of the organisation’s governance in order to ensure that the appropriate diversity of voices, expertise and experience can help the organisation make good decisions and benefit from good practice in charity management.

Securing CAP’s Long -Term Sustainability

Chisenhale Dance Space currently occupies the entire top floor of the premises adjacent to the Main Building. The remainder of the site was originally a brewery, which closed in the 1980s and has remained unoccupied since. The landlord, London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH), has not proactively pursued redevelopment, and the site has become increasingly derelict. Under the terms of our lease, any development cannot proceed without the agreement of Chisenhale Art Place (CAP).

We view redevelopment as a significant opportunity for CAP, our partner organisations, and the local community. In December 2021, the landlord offered the unoccupied portion of the site as potential ‘meanwhile’ space without prior notice. CAP was subsequen tly approached by Creative Land Trust, an organisation dedicated to securing long-term, affordable space for creatives, to explore partnership options. Members agreed to pursue this approach, and an application was submitted to the Council.

CAP is committed to working collaboratively with the Council to develop a viable, creative, and communal future for the entire site, including the derelict/meanwhile space. With support from the GLA, we undertook a feasibility study in 2022 that demonstrated the potential to expand CAP’s usage - adding 30 affordable artists’ studios, increasing educational and community provision, and creating a more public-facing, open and accessible building. At the request of LBTH, this work was followed by a Social & Economic Impact Report, completed

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

in 2024, which clearly articulated CAP’s value to the borough, local community, and the wider London landscape.

CAP already generates substantial social and community impact each year, reaching 15,000 gallery visitors; 2,300 school participants; 878 dance practitioners; 39 studio residents; 80 emerging artists; and collaborating with local partners including Mile End Community Project and Roman Road Trust. Through these activities, CAP contributes directly to LBTH’s cultural, educational, and health priorities by providing community access, skills development, and local economic growth.

Building Value and Impact

In 2024, CAP completed a detailed Economic and Social Impact Report with Avison Young and Urban Symbiotics. The findings show that CAP generates £13 million in annual placebased impact within Tower Hamlets and £39 million nationally through employment, supplychain activity, and community programmes. Benefits to LBTH include:

If CAP’s long -term redevelopment strategy is realised, the total projected economic, social, and environmental benefits will reach £54 million, with £22 million retained within Tower Hamlets.

CAP’s current lease began in December 2006 and runs until December 2031, following the initial twenty-five-year lease from December 1981. When CAP first occupied the former factory, it was a derelict shell. Early members created the internal structures of the art spaces as they exist today, fitting out internal areas and making the exterior wind- and watertight.

The building is aging and has received no structural investment from the landlord. The envelope requires significant upgrades, including replacement of roofs and single-glazed windows, and full accessibility improvements are needed to ensure use by people of all abilities. CAP has begun a staged investment in the building to ensure wind and water tightness as well as urgent remedial works to protect the public realm.

CAP is committed to working in partnership with LBTH to safeguard the building and its legacy, support borough-wide regeneration and cultural development objectives and explore innovative approaches to shared stewardship of community assets. Without a clear agreement on tenure, CAP’s charitable activities and the building’s maintenance are at risk, along with the long-term social, cultural, and economic benefits CAP provides to Tower Hamlets.

5. CHISENHALE GALLERY

Introduction

Chisenhale Gallery was founded by artists. The same experimental vision and spirit of possibility that transformed an empty veneer factory and brewery warehouse into a gallery

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

– continues to guide our work. In 2024 25, our principal activities were commissioning and producing contemporary art, publishing books and online material, and engaging in social projects that connect art with the local and wider community.

Chisenhale Gallery’s Commissions Programme supports UK -based and international artists to develop ambitious new work, combining research, concept development, and sustained curatorial engagement. Over the past year, we produced four new commissions and delivered a programme of talks, workshops, and events alongside each exhibition, enabling audiences to engage deeply with the artistic process. Partnerships and collaborations, both nationally and internationally, extended the reach of our programme, including cocommissions with Kunstinstituut Melly, Rotterdam, Passerelle Centre d’Art Contemporain, Brest, and The Power Plant, Toronto.

Located in a vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood in London’s East End, Chisenhale Gallery forms part of Chisenhale Art Place alongside Chisenhale Dance Space and Chisenhale Studios. We continue to foster partnerships with local schools, community organisations, and residents to develop socially engaged projects, strengthen connections, and maintain our role as a vital community resource.

Chisenhale Gallery is a registered charity and part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio. Our exhibitions are free, and we fundraise for 100% of our artistic programme through trusts, foundations, and individual supporters.

Mission:

To champion the next generation of artists.

Chisenhale Gallery champions the next generation of artists and is inspired by exciting and thought- provoking ways that artists reinterpret the world. The gallery amplifies artists’ voices to connect with the artist within us all. Chisenhale Gallery believes that excellent artists are everywhere and so provides platforms for them to be seen and heard, not only in the gallery or art studio, but also in classrooms, in books and throughout the local area. The gallery works with UK-based artists to provide an international platform and with international artists to support their UK network.

Vision:

A dynamic neighbourhood art gallery with an international reach, we uniquely bring to life artists’ ideas and are a vital contributor to our many communities locally and worldwide.

We are:

Strategic Aims and Objectives

Chisenhale Gallery’s activities are guided by seven strategic objectives:

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

  1. Provide opportunities for artists to develop and produce new, inspiring work, often giving them their first public platform within an institution in London.

  2. Create opportunities for audiences to connect with artists and explore the questions raised by their work.

  3. Provide employment and professional development for artists and arts workers.

  4. Be a platform for artists from diverse cultural and social backgrounds to reach audiences in the UK and abroad.

  5. Inspire and reach audiences locally, nationally, and internationally, including via artist-led, community-focused programmes.

  6. Show principled leadership with a skilled and representative staff and board.

  7. Sustain a resilient, ethical, and environmentally responsible business model to match ambition and secure long-term accommodation.

Commissions:

– – The Missing O & E Joshua Leon (23 Feb 21 Apr 2024)

– – pink & green Rory Pilgrim (17 May 21 Jul 2024)

– – hygrosummons (iter.01) Simnikiwe Buhlungu (6 Sep 3 Nov 2024)

Licence to Live – Bruno Zhu (22 Nov 2024 – 2 Feb 2025)

Publishing

Publications in 2024 – 25 complemented our commissions programme:

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

These publications expanded access to research and ideas generated through commissions, providing national and international audiences with engagement opportunities beyond the gallery space.

Social Practice:

– Migrate Journey (26 28 Apr 2024)

Public sculpture and community events involving local organisers, photographers, and architects, engaging a local audience of 300.

Island of Us: Conversations About Justice with Children

Collaboration with Chisenhale Primary School inspired by Rory Pilgrim’s pink & green exhibition. Explored freedom, justice, and ethical responsibility with pupils; published as a small book.

Future Artists Programme & CAP Street Party

August and September 2024 saw 219 young people engaged through workshops across Chisenhale Art Place and nearby venues. The Street Party drew 750 attendees (491 via the gallery), featuring performances, workshops, and stalls by local artists and organisations.

Art-making in Unstable Contexts

Partnership with London East Alternative Provision (PRU) supporting students with complex learning needs and risk factors. Over 50 full teaching days were delivered, supporting students’ qualifications and practical learning in the arts.

Curatorial Fellowships

Staff and Governance

Chisenhale Gallery continued to be led by a committed board of trustees, chaired by May Calil. In 2024 – 25, the gallery employed 33 staff, including 18 salaried employees and 15 freelance/contractors.

Senior staff included:

Networks

Chisenhale Gallery maintained active memberships with:

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

(As a separate company and charity, Chisenhale Gallery’s full annual impact report can be found on the Charity Commission’s website)

6. CHISENHALE DANCE SPACE (CDS)

Chisenhale Dance Space (CDS) has been making space for artists to lead, experiment, and create for over 40 years, serving marginalised dance artists from Tower Hamlets, London, and across the UK. We support an Artist Community that spans all ages and roles within experimental performance, including performers, choreographers, teachers, curators, producers and advocates for sectoral change. We prioritise the needs of those who have been historically marginalised, including artists of Global Majority heritage and disabled/neurodivergent artists. Our programmes are artist-led, centred on the belief that artists best understand their needs and are key drivers of change in the sector. We offer a responsive framework of opportunities and peer support tailored to the challenges artists face.

This year marked the first full cycle of activity following the implementation of CDS’s reimagined artist-led model in late 2023. This approach has enabled the development of new programmes, partnerships, and opportunities, strengthening CDS’s commitment t o being authentically artist-led. The Board and management have implemented a three-year – strategic plan (2024 2027), which is monitored and refined throughout its delivery.

CDS & the Artist Community

CDS is England’s only independent, artist -led dance centre, providing essential space for artistic experimentation, creation, and professional development. Its community of 230 artists plays a central role in shaping programmes and organisational direction.

CDS prioritises process over product, fostering a culture of experimentation, risk-taking, and learning. The organisation operates with transparency and ethical practices, rooted in antiracism, anti-ableism, and environmental consciousness. Artists from across the UK, representing diverse backgrounds and identities, find a supportive and inclusive home at CDS.

CDS values dance in all its forms, recognising its transformative impact on individuals and communities. Rejecting conventional notions of "quality," the organisation embraces a wide range of performance styles and disciplines.

Its approach is guided by core principles: collectivity, autonomy, generosity, equity, accountability, and accessibility. Artists are encouraged to advocate for change within the organisation, their networks, and the broader arts sector.

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

CDS Impact Strands

CDS’s work is organised around four key areas:

Annual Review and Successes:

Community Building:

CDS Artist Community

The CDS Artist Community comprises 230 independent artists and arts workers, including performers, choreographers, teachers, curators, producers, and facilitators. Members take on one of two roles:

2024 – 25 marked the first full cycle under the artist-led model. Feedback gathered throughout the year informed refinements to communications, including:

Artist Community Events

Highlights included:

Performance Party & Community Fair

In July 2024, CDS trialled a new public- facing summer event, ‘Making Sh*t Happen,’ at Ugly Duck. Across two days, over 300 attendees experienced performances, community stalls, workshops, and discussions on inclusive practice.

Artist Recruitment

CDS grew its Artist Community from 200 to 230 members, prioritising marginalised voices:

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

A public application process is planned for summer 2025 to broaden participation.

Access to Affordable Space:

Studio Hire

CDS studios were open 89% of the year (7,824 hours), supporting 2,131 bookings and 493 unique hirers. Subsidised rates and free studio hours supported 487 bookings, valued at - approximately £18,000. The ‘last minute’ rate offer expanded access and generated £15,600 additional income.

Total studio hire income reached £101,006, 41% of turnover, an increase of 68% since 2022.

Investment in Studio Spaces

Supported by Theatres Trust and LBTH grants, CDS invested in:

Artist Support:

Public Programmes

Artist-led Classes & Workshops

Approx. 300 workshops/classes delivered, including children’s programming. Plans underway for new teenage classes, supported by Choreographers Gallery Trust.

Partner Programmes

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

CDS Artist Community Programmes

Influence, Advocacy & Changemaking:

CDS Artist Committee

A paid committee of 5 artists advised on governance, strategy, and advocacy. Achievements included:

Dance Art Journal REWRITE Series

Eight commissioned articles amplified artist-led perspectives, reaching 47,662 accounts and 1,510 readers.

Training & Organisational Change

CDS commissioned Disability Art Online to produce some anti-ableism webinars; previous anti-racism webinars from Season Butler continue to be available for licensing. CDS participated in the ‘Transformational Governance Programme’ and ‘Creating Transformation’ Programme to embed anti-racist and anti-ableist practices.

Staff & Governance

End-of-year staffing:

Steven Brett and Sally Rose provided steady leadership as Interim Co-Chairs, guiding the board and supporting the search for new trustees to take the organisation through its next phase of development. While not legally responsible for the charity, the CDS Artist Committee continued to play a vital role in governance and decision-making, helping to embed artist leadership across the organisation.

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

(As a separate company and charity, Chisenhale Dance Space’s full annual impact report can be found on the Charity Commission’s website)

7. RISK MANAGEMENT REVIEW

On a regular basis, Trustees actively review the operational and business risks which the charity faces and believe that maintaining financial reserves at current levels, combined with an annual review of the controls over financial systems, will mitigate these risks. Currently identified highest level of concern are:

an annual review of the controls over financial
identified highest level of concern are:		 systems, will mitigate these risks. Currently
RISK MITIGATIONS
The current lease, with London Borough of
Tower Hamlets, expires in 2031.
The risks/outcomes are:
1) Loss of the building and all organisations
have to leave building.
2) A further short lease with no investment
in the building
3) Renewed lease with significantly higher
rent.		 Securing the long-term future of the
organisation is central to our planning.
As we enter the last 7 years of our lease,
engagement with our landlord is increased,
to establish a shared sustainable outcome
for the premises that we use as well as the
unoccupied derelict area.
A proposal has been submitted to develop
the site with potential partner Creative Land
Trust, and a feasibility study has been
undertaken with support from GLA.
Advocacy with GLA, ACE and others has
commenced to raise profile of situation and
risk.
Regular check-ins take place with members
and trustees within a two-year framework to
progress by Spring 2025.
That one, or both, of the Member
Organisations either become incapable of
paying their sub-leases or choose to leave
the Company in 2028 when their sub-
leases are up for renewal. Each member
organisation contributes approximately 15%
of the running costs.
The risk of a shortfall in funds associated
with our member organisations has now
changed in character as both are more
dependent on grant income for current
sustainability.		 Working framework is now in place for
regular communication between:
1) Chairs & Executive Directors.
2) ED’s on more operational matters.
A scoping study of alternative uses of
spaces is planned, in the event that
members leave before the end of the
existing headlease.

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Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

This risk of finding alternative tenants also increases over time due to the aging of the premises making them less attractive. The overall condition of the exterior fabric of Strategy has been one of only undertaking the two buildings continues to deteriorate essential, non-improving repairs and costs over time. are included in annual budgets. This will be reviewed following a Planned Preventative Increasing maintenance and repairs to Maintenance report. ensure Health & Safety could become unaffordable to the organisation. A PPM report has been commissioned to help identify future requirements and Increasing the quality of the building’s associated costs that could be discussed structure through aggressive maintenance with the landlord. poses the prospect of increased rent from our landlords with accompanying hardships The plan to secure a long-term future for to our Members. the building (in-perpetuity lease or asset transfer) would resolve this issue with the plan for a capital build campaign. Robust reserves to be maintained if the landlord is unlikely to invest in upkeep of the building.

INVESTMENT POWERS

The charity has no significant investments other than cash on deposit. Under the articles and memorandum, the trustees have the power to invest in anything the trustees wish.

ASSETS The Company has no undepreciated fixed assets as shown in Note 12 to the accounts.

RESERVES The financial reserve policy is to strive to keep twelve month's expenditure. This is reviewed annually by the Trustees in line with good practice, as suggested by the Charities Commission.

AUDITORS The annual turnover of Chisenhale Art Place is approximately £350,000 which does not require a full audit, under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In 2018 Andrew Wells at Counterculture LLP was appointed by Trustees, to prepare the Annual Accounts and undertake the future Independent Examinations. This appointment was reconfirmed at the AGM December 2022.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

In shaping the Charity, the trustees have considered the Charity Commissions Guidance Section 4 Charities Act 2006 on public benefit.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Section 419(2) of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

This report was approved by the board on 21st November 2025 and signed on its behalf by

19

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

________ Lucy Kennedy Chair of Trustee Board

20

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company 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 accounts 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 examiners statement

Since the Charitable company's gross income exceeded £250,000, your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination by virtue of my membership of Association of Accounting Technicians, 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:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  2. the accounts do not comply with the requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or 4. the accounts 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 accounts to be reached.

Andrew M Wells FMAAT Counterculture Partnership LLP 23 St Leonards Road Bexhill East Sussex TN40 1HH

28 November 2025

21

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes Unrestricted Restricted 2025 2024
funds funds
£ £ £ £
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies 2 22,500 - 22,500 4,080
Charitable activities 3 301,303 - 301,303 280,426
Investments 4 445 - 445 963
Total 324,248 - 324,248 285,469
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 5/6 (401,481) (1,341) (402,822) (310,398)
Total (401,481) (1,341) (402,822) (310,398)
Net expenditure (77,233) (1,341) (78,574) (24,929)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 382,232 1,341 383,573 408,502
Total funds carried forward 304,999 - 304,999 383,573

22

01615990

Registered Number :

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Statement of Financial Position As at 31 March 2025

Notes
Current assets
12
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
13
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Net assets
The funds of the charity
Restricted income funds
14
Unrestricted income funds
14
Total funds		 £
2025
66,066
323,643
389,709
(84,710)
304,999
304,999
304,999
-
304,999
304,999		 £
2024
58,637
341,381
400,018
(16,445)
383,573
383,573
383,573
1,341
382,232
383,573

For the year ended 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:

Lucy Kennedy (Chair) Trustee

28 November 2025

23

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting Policies

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value and the revaluation of certain fixed assets and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Companies Act 2006.

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

Going concern

The financial statements are prepared, on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the Charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Resources expended

Liabilities are recognised as resources expended when there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure.

Allocation and appointment of costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs may include any back office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charities programmes and activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities where applicable. The bases on which support costs have been allocated are set out in the notes to the accounts.

Taxation

As a registered charity, the company is exempt from income and corporation tax to the extent that its income and gains are applicable to charitable purposes only. Value Added Tax is not recoverable by the company, and is therefore included in the relevant costs in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Operating leases

Costs of operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

2. Income from donations and legacies

2025 2024
£ £
Unrestricted funds
Grants received 22,500 4,080
22,500 4,080

24

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

Analysis of grants received

Action for Bow
Arts Council England
West London Business Ltd
ncome from charitable activities
Unrestricted funds
Advancement of the Arts
Licence fees receivable
Educational activities
Light and heat
Open Weekend
nvestment income
Unrestricted funds
Bank interest receivable		 2025
£
20,000
-
2,500
22,500
2025
£
289,549
4,186
7,365
203
301,303
301,303
2025
£
445
445		 2024
£
-
4,080
-
4,080
2024
£
262,392
7,163
10,871
-
280,426
280,426
2024
£
963
963

3. Income from charitable activities

4. Investment income

5. Costs of charitable activities by fund type

Advancement of the Arts
Open Studios
Support costs		 Unrestricted
funds
£
254,521
-
146,960
401,481		 Restricted
funds
£
1,341
-
-
1,341		 2024
2025
£
£
227,152
255,862
963
-
82,283
146,960
310,398
402,822

25

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

6. Costs of charitable activities by activity type

Support costs
Advancement of the Arts
Open Studios
nalysis of support costs
Advancement of the Arts
Management
Governance costs		 Support
costs
Activities
undertaken
directly
£
£
146,960
255,862
-
-
255,862
146,960		 2025
£
402,822
-
402,822
2025
£
134,302
12,658
146,960		 2024
£
309,435
963
310,398
2024
£
72,933
9,350
82,283

7. Analysis of support costs

8. Net income/(expenditure) for the year

This is stated after charging/(crediting):

This is stated after charging/(crediting):
2025 2024
£ £
Accountancy fees 1,650 1,650
Staff pension contributions 2,506 1,122

26

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements Continued

For the year ended 31 March 2025

9. Staff costs and emoluments

Total staff costs for the year ended 31 March 2025 were:

Total staff costs for the year ended 31 March 2025 were:
2025 2024
£ £
Salaries and wages 82,785 42,753
Social security costs 3,647 -
Pension costs 2,506 1,122
88,938 43,875

The total employee benefits including pension contributions of the key management personnel were £54,014 (2024 : £42,172).

No employees received remuneration in excess of £60,000 in the year (2024: £nil).

Administration
Direct charitable activities		 2025
1
1
2		 2024
1
1
2

10. Trustee remuneration and related party transactions

The charity trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2024:£nil).

No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2024:£nil). The trustees all give freely their time and expertise without any form of remuneration or other benefit in cash or kind (2024:£nil).

Trustees' expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £nil (2024:£nil).

27

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

11. Comparative for the Statement of Financial Activities

Unrestricted Restricted 2024
funds funds
£ £ £
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies - 4,080 4,080
Charitable activities 280,426 - 280,426
Investments 963 - 963
Total 281,389 4,080 285,469
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities (281,511) (28,887) (310,398)
Total (281,511) (28,887) (310,398)
Net expenditure (122) (24,807) (24,929)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 382,354 26,148 408,502
Total funds carried forward 382,232 1,341 383,573
12. Debtors
2025 2024
£ £
Amounts due within one year:
Trade debtors 7,975 3,367
Prepayments and accrued income 58,091 55,270
66,066 58,637
13. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2025 2024
£ £
Trade creditors 64,374 1,807
Other creditors 14,686 11,559
Accruals and deferred income 5,650 3,079
84,710 16,445

28

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

14. Movement in funds

Unrestricted Funds

Designated
Buildings fund
Education fund
Local Authority Rebate
Fund
General
General
Unrestricted Funds - Previous year
Designated
Buildings fund
Education fund
Local Authority Rebate
Fund
General
General		 Balance at
01/04/2024
£
40,500
27,631
1,633
312,468
382,232
Balance at
01/04/2023
£
40,500
21,794
36,356
283,704
382,354		 Incoming
resources
£
-
4,186
-
320,062
324,248
Incoming
resources
£
-
7,163
-
274,226
281,389		 Outgoing
resources
£
-
(1,000)
-
(400,481)
(401,481)
Outgoing
resources
£
-
(1,326)
-
(280,185)
(281,511)		 Transfers
£
(29,490)
-
(1,633)
31,123
-
Transfers
£
-
-
(34,723)
34,723
-		 Balance at
31/03/2025
£
11,010
30,817
-
263,172
304,999
Balance at
31/03/2024
£
40,500
27,631
1,633
312,468
382,232

29

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

Purpose of unrestricted Funds

Education fund

This fund holds monies designated for educational purposes.

Buildings fund

The purpose of this fund is for planned expenditures related to the building that were initiated but not complete at 31st March 2025.

Local Authority Rebate Fund

Rebate from landlord London Borough of Tower Hamlets for three months rent during the COVID pandemic. A distribution to members was made in December 2023.

General

Monies which can be used by the Trustees to further the objectives of the charity.

Restricted Funds

Education fund
Restricted Funds - Previous year
Education fund		 Balance at
01/04/2024
£
1,341
1,341
Balance at
01/04/2023
£
26,148
26,148		 Incoming
resources
£
-
-
Incoming
resources
£
4,080
4,080		 Outgoing
resources
£
(1,341)
(1,341)
Outgoing
resources
£
(28,887)
(28,887)		 Balance at
31/03/2025
£
-
-
Balance at
31/03/2024
£
1,341
1,341

Purpose of restricted funds

Education fund

Funds are held for use in educational activities.

Energy fund

The energy fund is for the improvement of the enegry efficiency of the building.

30

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

15. Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted funds
General
General
Designated
Buildings fund
Education fund
Restricted funds
Previous year
Unrestricted funds
General
General
Designated
Buildings fund
Education fund
Local Authority Rebate
Fund
Restricted funds
Education fund		 Net current
assets /
(liabilities)
Net Assets
£
£
263,172
263,172
11,010
11,010
30,817
30,817
304,999
304,999
Net current
assets /
(liabilities)
Net Assets
£
£
318,304
318,304
40,500
40,500
21,794
21,794
1,633
1,633
1,342
1,342
383,573
383,573

16. Commitments

At 31 March 2025 the company had annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as set out below:

2025 2024
Operating leases which expire: £ £
After more than 5 years 152,350 152,350
152,350 152,350

31

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 March 2025

INCOME AND ENDOWMENT
Donations and legacies
Grants receivable
Charitable activities
Licence fees receivable (Advancement of the
Arts)
Educational activities (Advancement of the Arts)
Light and heat (Advancement of the Arts)
Open Weekend (Advancement of the Arts)
Investments
Bank interest receivable
Total incoming resources
EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities
Cost of direct charitable activity (Advancement of
the Arts)
Rent and rates (Advancement of the Arts)
Utilities (Advancement of the Arts)
Insurance (Advancement of the Arts)
Building repairs (Advancement of the Arts)
Education costs (Advancement of the Arts)
Studio costs (Advancement of the Arts)
Cost of direct charitable activity (Open Studios)
SUPPORT COSTS
Management
Staff costs - wages & salaries (Advancement of
the Arts)
Staff costs - national insurance costs
(Advancement of the Arts)
Staff costs - pension contributions
(Advancement of the Arts)
Open weekend and publicity (Advancement of
the Arts)
Telecoms (Advancement of the Arts)
Bank charges (Advancement of the Arts)
Freelance assistance (Advancement of the Arts)
Sundry (Advancement of the Arts)
Administration and maintenance (Advancement
of the Arts)
Governance costs
Accountancy fees (Advancement of the Arts)		 £
2025
22,500
22,500
289,549
4,186
7,365
203
301,303
445
445
324,248
(2,341)
(166,987)
(14,893)
(22,582)
(29,490)
(18,484)
(1,085)
-
(255,862)
(82,785)
(3,647)
(2,506)
(2,186)
(2,032)
(127)
(25,106)
(883)
(15,030)
(134,302)
(1,650)		 £
2024
4,080
4,080
262,392
7,163
10,871
-
280,426
963
963
285,469
-
(161,293)
(16,418)
(17,428)
(1,678)
(29,250)
(1,085)
(963)
(228,115)
(42,753)
-
(1,122)
-
(1,652)
(391)
(2,890)
(2,855)
(21,270)
(72,933)
(1,650)

32

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Chisenhale Art Place Ltd

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities Continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

Legal and professional fees (Advancement of
the Arts)
Total resources expended
Net Expenditure		 (11,008)
(12,658)
(402,822)
(78,574)		 (7,700)
(9,350)
(310,398)
(24,929)

33

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements