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2025-03-31-accounts

Accountancy Solutions

Public Arts (Trading as Beam)

Financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025

Charity number: 327415 Registered England and Wales

Company number: 2059168 Company limited by guarantee

[Call: 07926 450 250 ] Email: info@hslaccountancysolutions.co.uk www.hslaccountancysolutions.co.uk

Public Arts (Trading as Beam) Contents of the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025

Page
Administrative Details 1
Directors (Trustees Report) 2 - 7
Examiner's Report 8
Statement of Financial Activities 9
Balance Sheet 10
Notes to the accounts 11 - 13

Public Arts (Trading as Beam) Administrative details for the year ended 31st March 2025

Registered Charity number

Registered Charity number 327415 Registered Company number 2059168 Directors (Trustees) Gordon Watson Andrew Ball Bongani Muchemwa Trudi Entwistle Karmjit Singh Lyal Sanaa Shaikh Jessica Richmond Henri Pearson Secretary Andrew Ball Principle address The Art House Drury Lane Wakefield WF1 2TE Bankers Co-op Bank PO Box 250 Delf House Southway Skelmersdale WN8 6WT Independent Examiner Mr Heera Singh FMAAT HSL Accountancy Solutions Enterprise House 61a Carr House Doncaster DN1 2BY

Page 1

Public Arts (Trading as Beam) The Directors (trustees) present their annual report for the year ended 31st March 2025

The trustees are pleased to present their annual directors’ report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31 March 2025, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities.

Exemptions

The trustees have taken advantage of the exemptions available to small companies, including the audit exemption (see statement on balance sheet).

Structure, Governance and Management Governing Document

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 26 September 1986 and registered as a charity on 23 September 1987. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up during the period of membership, or within one year afterwards, members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.

Since January 2007 the company has been trading under the name of Beam.

Recruitment and Appointment to Board of Management Committee

The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company’s Articles are known as members of the Management Committee, sometimes referred to as the Board of Trustees. Members of the Management Committee are elected to serve a term of office of three years after which they are eligible to be re-elected at the next Annual General Meeting.

The board reviews the skills of members regularly. Members of the Management Committee are generally recruited from the areas of our work – the arts, education and the built environment – supplemented by professional skills – legal and finance – as required.

Management Committee Induction and Training

Most members of the Management Committee are already familiar with some aspect of the organisation’s work, either as a creative practitioner or having come into contact with the organisation’s work in some other way. Prior to appointment they are invited to a meeting with the Chair at which the charitable aims, current position, and future plans of the organisation are discussed. Potential members are then invited to a board meeting as an observer, after which a vote on membership is taken.

New members of the Management Committee receive a pack of information which includes the current business plan together with publicity material relating to recent and future events organised by Beam. Information produced by the Charity Commission is also provided, setting the roles and responsibilities of committee members and including an outline job description.

Organisation

The Management Committee directs the company. The day-to-day work of the company is organised by freelance consultants who co-ordinate the charitable company’s activities. Freelance consultants are accountable to the Management Committee for ensuring the company delivers the services set out in its plans and achieving financial and other key performance indicators.

Risk Management

The Management Committee meet quarterly to review major risks, to establish systems and procedures to mitigate the risks and develop procedures for minimising any potential impact on the charitable company should any of the risks materialise. As part of the Business Planning Cycle the Management Committee undertakes a review of the major risks to the Charitable Company, supported by information supplied by freelance consultants, which are regularly reviewed as part of reports presented to the Management Committee.

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Public Arts (Trading as Beam) The Directors (trustees) present their annual report for the year ended 31st March 2025

INTRODUCTION BY GORDON WATSON, CHAIR BEAM TRUSTEES

This has been an exceptionally busy year, with a diverse range of creative projects from our home district of Wakefield to further afield in Chesterfield and Catterick Garrison. A particular highlight was being part of Wakefield’s Our Year 2024 delivering a series of mural projects with residents across the district celebrating our sense of place.

We have worked with some amazing artists and local communities who were so enthusiastically involved in our activities.

We’ve had the opportunity to deliver artist development programmes, UNBOUND and Engage/ Create, supporting the next generation of artists working in the public realm and intend to strengthen and deepen this aspect of our work going forwards.

The next 12 months will see significant commissions come to fruition in Wakefield, North Yorkshire, Barnsley and Chesterfield.

OUR PURPOSES AND ACTIVITIES

Beam is a cultural development organisation working across the North of England.

Our inclusive approach champions, celebrates and engages Artists and Communities to shape and animate thriving places.

Our work supports positive community wellbeing and economic benefit.

We act locally and impact strategically.

Our Vision

Collaborating with Artists to shape inspiring, creative and inclusive public spaces for all, which are owned and loved by their communities

Our Core Values

Our Services

Our Collaborators, Partners and Audiences

We work with local authorities, public funders, trusts and foundations, artists, arts and heritage organisations, community groups, education settings, protected landscapes, and the voluntary sector.

Business Aims 2022-2026:

  1. INNOVATE & NURTURE: To be a leader in the field of art in the public realm and support and develop Artists from all backgrounds

  2. CONNECT & COLLABORATE: Adopt a collaborative approach and increase Beam’s connectivity to deliver our business plan objectives.

  3. OUTSTANDING TRANSPARENT ORGANISATION: Committed to continually reviewing and improving our policies and processes, in order to deliver transparent and excellent work for people, places and planet.

  4. GROWING OUR ORGANISATION: Expand capacity and knowledge, enabling Beam to increase the efficient delivery of high quality work across the North and beyond.

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Public Arts (Trading as Beam) The Directors (trustees) present their annual report for the year ended 31st March 2025

________________

Charitable Object

Beam aim to benefit the public by:

As a registered charity Beam aim to benefit the public through the delivery of work in the following areas:

Overview of activities

Throughout 2024-25 the team has been busy producing 11 permanent public realm commissions, 7 temporary projects, alongside 2 creative development programmes.

Beam commissioned 18 artists and creative practitioners, engaging approximately 2,500 direct participants (communities & arts/cultural sector partners) through 60 workshops, with a wider audience of over 40,000 people engaging with art in their towns and neighbourhoods.

We are particularly proud to have supported 20 emerging artists on their journey towards working in the public realm.

We were delighted to be part of Wakefield’s Our Year 2024. Beam commissioned five artists to create murals in six locations across the district designed in partnership with local communities.

We were also appointed as creative producer for significant arts programmes as part of wider regeneration schemes in Chesterfield, Catterick Garrison, Castleford and Goldthorpe.

A highlight was the unveiling of Hope and Heritage by Luke Perry that celebrates Featherstone's mining heritage and its future. Hundreds of people gathered, the majority local residents, to witness the official unveiling of the sculpture and to honour the late Councillor Graham Isherwood who was a driving force behind the project.

The outcomes of our research into Diversity & Inclusion in the Public Art Sector with researcher Bo Olawoye in 2023, fed through into the development of our processes, particularly in terms of our approaches to recruitment. In October 2024 we were delighted to collaborate with Bo to present the findings of the report as part of the ‘Diversity Leaders’ Forum’ led by Creative UK for sector leaders.

Beam continues to be an active member of the Wakefield Public Art Framework Steering Group drawing on our knowledge and experience to advocate for the inclusion of public art in regeneration schemes and to promote best practice and ambition in how public art is commissioned.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

AIM 1: INNOVATE & NURTURE

Building on developments in 2023-24 we have designed and delivered numerous programmes to progress our aim to deliver Inclusive Support for Artists.

In Wakefield we collaborated with the Yorkshire Visual Arts Network (YVAN) to devise Unbound - Dynamic Artists for Public Spaces Development Programme for Wakefield/ West Yorkshire based Artists. Unbound was developed to address some of the challenges and barriers that exist for artists seeking to deliver their work in public spaces through a 6 month programme of training workshops, and the opportunity to shadow and be mentored by an experienced artist delivering a real time project in a public space. The programme was funded by Wakefield Council, Cultural Development Fund and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

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Public Arts (Trading as Beam) The Directors (trustees) present their annual report for the year ended 31st March 2025

________________

AIM 1: INNOVATE & NURTURE

On behalf of Barnsley Council we supported six South Yorkshire artists to take forward six socially engaged live commissions, each matched with experienced mentors. Through Engage/ Create Each artist had the opportunity to develop co-created new artwork, develop their skills in delivering socially engaged arts projects, boosting the capacity of the local creative sector. Funded as part of the Cultural Development Fund Round 2 by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England.

We continue to Advocate for Arts in Place-Shaping seeking opportunities to embed mentoring and learning within wider programmes. For the Goldthorpe and Castleford public art projects we recommended that additional funds were sought to offer a paid mentoring opportunity for a local artist. This was implemented and has enabled a behind the scenes insight and action based learning with the lead artist.

We have further advanced our aim to be Leaders of Innovation through our recent work with ixia - national public art think tank, to undertake work as one of three public art advisors as part of their ‘Public Art Support pilot’, with funding from Arts Council England. The pilot supported three Councils developing public art commissioning projects planned as part of Levelling Up or Town’s Fund programmes, with Beam being partnered with Darlington Borough Council to act as a critical friend, helping to boost knowledge and understanding of current contemporary public art practice and processes. The pilot resulted in a webinar in November 2024, at which Beam presented.

We continue our relationship with the University of Leeds to support our aim to be Leaders of Innovation. Katie Lee continues her PhD research project in collaboration with Beam and the School of Geography at the University of Leeds after securing ESRC funding for a three year PhD study based on the Beam archive.

AIM 2: CONNECT & COLLABORATE

We have strengthened our connections within the Creative Sector. This includes through our memberships with Academy of Urbanism, Wakefield Civic Society, Sustainable Arts in Leeds, the Wakefield Public Art Framework Steering Group, our partnership with YVAN to deliver Unbound, our work on the ixia ‘Public Art Support pilot’, and advisory support for The Leap, Bradford to develop the brief and manage the recruitment process for a new sculptural artwork on Leeds Road to be co-produced with the local community.

Communities remain at the heart of our practice embedding opportunities for residents to participate and influence public art programmes including: Animate Chesterfield, Public Art Catterick Garrison, Hope and Heritage, Featherstone, Crossings and Gateways mural programme, City Fields public art commission, Goldthorpe public art commissioning and consultation in Castleford for future regeneration plans.

We continue to work closely with our Clients sharing good practice approaches and advocating for high quality programmes. Clients in the period included: Wakefield Council, Barnsley Council, Hull City Council, Chesterfield Borough Council and North Yorkshire Council. We also produced a professionally designed portfolio of Beam’s work which includes information about the benefits of our creative approach for communities and artists.

AIM 3: OUTSTANDING TRANSPARENT ORGANISATION

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion continues to be a key focus for us and we continue to embed good practice principles across our work through commissions and strategies, including the development of an EDI action plan.

People, Transparency and Good Governance - as a Board we retain an up to date risk register which is reviewed every other meeting or when required if urgent risks are identified. We review and update our policies annually. To support our focus on the Climate Emergency we continue to deliver against our Sustainability Policy and action plan.

AIM 4: GROWING OUR ORGANISATION

We continued to Build Capacity through the engagement of additional freelance project managers to support a number of We have been able to Build Capacity through the expansion of our team, engaging Helen Moore as a freelance Creative Producer, working on projects in Wakefield and Barnsley and continuing engagement of Richard King as freelance evaluator for Animate Chesterfield.

Our Board of Trustees oversees the strategic direction of the organisation. The focus of the Beam Board Away Day 2024 facilitate by Elizabeth Hawley-Lingham was to consider:

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Public Arts (Trading as Beam) The Directors (trustees) present their annual report for the year ended 31st March 2025

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AIM 4: GROWING OUR ORGANISATION

In January 2025 we shared our annual review for 2024 publically, to support our Identity & Communication. We continue to develop our presence via social media with a particular focus on Instagram and Linkedin alongside quarterly e- newsletters.

Team members have continued to Build knowledge and awareness through participation in the Create Growth Programme West Yorkshire and have attended numerous regional events to support our business development alongside research into Local Authority priorities and relevant government agendas and funding.

Principal Sources of Income

The principal sources of funding for the charity were by way of consultancy work for Wakefield Council, Chesterfield Council, Barnsley Council, and North Yorkshire Council.

In December 2024, Trustees agreed from April 2025 to implement a 3% increase to Beam’s chargeable day rates to clients which are split into three bands to ensure a minimum of 25% surplus is generated to cover the organisation’s overheads.

Investment powers and policy

As a not for profit organisation, most of the charitable company’s funds are spent in the short term. However, the charitable company has the power to make any Investment, which the Board of Trustees sees fit. Throughout the year Trustees prioritised rebuilding Beam’s reserves to support future investment.

Reserves Policy

The Management Committee believes that it needs to hold a level of reserves to protect against the main risks to the organisation. In addition,the Committee wishes to utilise reserves to invest in strategic organisational development in pursuit of our charitable objectives. Therefore, the Directors seek to establish an appropriate equilibrium between types of risk.

As of 27 June 2024 a target to hold reserves was agreed by Trustees that would cover 3 months operational costs and was set at £10,000. This was calculated taking into account the core costs of the organisation for a 3 month period to wind up the organisation including: staff salaries, statutory redundancy costs, and legal fees. It also reflects the current position of the organisation that now has minimal overheads, the majority of which only require 1 month's notice to cancel.

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

Beam will continue to deliver our vision and services in 2025-26 whilst developing a new business plan for 2026-2030. We will focus on the delivery of the following projects:

Beam’s new business plan will enhance our business model and structure to build our sustainability and resilience and position the organisation for growth. We will be seeking grant funding to support a step change in the organisation.

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Public Arts (Trading as Beam) The Directors (trustees) present their annual report for the year ended 31st March 2025

________________

Statement of Directors and Trustees' responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of the Company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the charitable company and the group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

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

Small company provisions:

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees declare that they have approved the above report. Signed on behalf of the trustees

Signed:

Name and position: Gordon Watson, Director

Date:13[th] June 2025

Page 7

Examiner's report to the trustees of Public Arts (Trading as Beam) for the year ended 31st March 2025

I report on the accounts of Public Arts (Trading as Beam) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 9 to 13.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees (who are also the directors of the Company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other then the company and the company's trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:

  2. accounting records have not been kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006;

    • the accounts do not accord with such records:

  4. where accounts are prepared on an accruals basis, whether they fail to comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006, or are not consistent with the Charities SORP (FRS102)

  5. any matter which the examiner believes should be drawn to the attention of the reader to gain a proper understanding of the accounts.

Mr Heera Singh FMAAT HSL Accountancy Solutions Ltd Enterprise House 61a Carr House Doncaster DN1 2BY

Date:16[th] June 2025

Page 8

Public Arts (Trading as Beam) Statement of Financial Activities (Incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account) for the year ended 31st March 2025

Notes
Income from:
Grants and donations
Charitable activities
2
Investments
Other
Total
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
3
Other
Total
Net income/(expenditure)
Balance brought forward at 1st April 2024
Balance carried forward at 31st March 2025		 Funds
2025
£
0
286,550
139
0
286,690
267,873
0
267,873
18,817
18,527
37,343		 Funds
2024
£
683
114,582
432
0
115,697
146,943
0
146,943
-31,246
49,773
18,527

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared. All the above amounts relate to continuing activities.

The accounting policies and notes on pages 11 to 13 form part of these financial statements.

Page 9

Public Arts (Trading as Beam) Balance sheet As at 31st March 2025

2025 2024
Notes £ £
Fixed Assets 4 0 0
Current Assets
Debtors 5 6,222 13,255
Cash at bank & in hand 106,557 22,334
112,779 35,589
Liabilities
Creditors - amounts due within one year 5 -75,435 -17,063
Net current assets 37,343 18,527
Net assets 37,343 18,527
Funds of the company
Unrestricted Funds 37,343 18,527
Total funds

For the year 31st March 2025, the company is entitled to the audit exemption under section 477 (2) of the Companies Act 2006.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:

a) ensuring the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386; and

b) preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year, and its profit or loss for the financial year, in accordance with the requirement of the companies Act 2006 relating to accounts, so far as is applicable to the company.

Small company provisions:

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors declare that they have approved the accounts above.

Signed on behalf of the company's directors:

Signed:

Name and position: Gordon Watson, Director

Date:13[th] June 2025

The accounting policies and notes on pages 11 to 13 form part of these financial statements.

Page 10

Public Arts (Trading as Beam) Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025

1. Accounting policies

1.2. Incoming resources

Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fund-raising or contract income) the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Grants and donations are only included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the company has unconditional entitlement to the resources.

Contractual income is only included in the Statement of Financial Activities once the related goods or performance related services have been delivered.

Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable.

1.3. Expenditure

Expenditure is charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered. Expenditure is classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred in the delivery of the charity’s activities and services for its beneficiaries, including both direct and support costs. The expenditure has been analysed but usage.

Professional fees include those costs associated with meeting constitutional and statutory requirements, including Accountancy fees.

1.4. Fund accounting

Restricted funds are funds received from donors which are subject to restrictions on the purposes for which they may be used of which have been raised for a specific project. Unrestricted funds are those where there are no externally imposed restrictions. These include funds freely available to the charity for expenditure or appropriation to reserves for internally designated purposes.

1.5. Assets

Tangible assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £500. They are valued at cost, or, if gifted, at the value to the company on receipt.

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Public Arts (Trading as Beam) Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025

1.6. Stocks

Goods or services provided as part of a charitable activity are measured at net realisable value based on the service potential provided by items of stock.

1.7. Debtors

Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

1.8. Creditors

Creditors 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 are normally recognised at their settlement amount, usually the invoice amount. Accrued charges are normally valued at their settlement amount.

1.9. Taxes

The company is not VAT registered. As a Charity the company is exempt from taxation on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or s256 of the Taxation of chargeable gains Act section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or s256 of the Taxation of chargeable gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

2. Income from Charitable activities:

Income from Charitable activities:
Grants
Programmes & services
Donations
Fees
Programmes & services
Sponsorship & other income
Investment income		 Total
Total
2025
2024
£
£
0
0
0
683
286,550
114,582
0
0
286,550
114,582
139
432
286,690
115,697

3. Expenditure on Charitable activities:

Project costs
Staffing costs
Running costs
Marketing costs
Company costs
Governance
Total 2025
Total 2024		 Direct
Support Governance
Total
costs
costs
costs
costs
£
£
£
£
239,833
0
0
239,833
0
19,750
0
19,750
0
5,744
0
5,744
0
1,086
0
1,086
0
410
0
410
0
0
1,050
1,050
239,833
26,990
1,050
267,873
95,123
50,870
950
146,943

4. Fixed assets

The Charity did not own any assets during the period of these accounts.

5. Debtors and creditors

2025 2024
£ £
6,222 13,255

Trade debtors

Page 12

Public Arts (Trading as Beam) Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025

5. Creditors and creditors (continued)

Creditors and creditors (continued)
Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Project income in advance of expenditure		 2025
2024
£
£
11,162
5,007
12,866
4,043
51,408
8,013
75,435
62,893

6.

Movement of funds
Unrestricted funds		 Opening
Incoming
Resources
Closing
Balance
Resources
Expended
Transfer
Balance
£
£
£
£
£
18,526
286,690
-267,873
0
37,343

7.

Salaries

Salaries and wages
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.		 2025
2024
£
£
19,750
19,292

8.

Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds
Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities		 General
Restricted
Total
Fund
Fund
Funds
£
£
£
0
0
0
112,779
0
112,779
-75,435
0
-75,435
37,343
0
37,343

9. Company Limited by Guarantee

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member, in the event of a winding up, is limited to £1

10. Directors Remuneration and Related Party Transactions

No remuneration or expenses were paid to any trustee during the period of these accounts. (2024: Nil)

No trustee or other person related to the Charitable Company has any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the Charitable Company during the year (2024: nil)

11. Previous period comparison

Where available, the previous period’s figures have been included for comparison purposes only.

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