Circus City
Circus City (previously known as Handstand Arts) works to advance the arts through the presentation of circus performances and other arts for the public benefit, in particular but not exclusively for those people living in Bristol and the surrounding areas
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £7,655 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in unrestricted reserves of £23,040. The trustees note that reserves are held to manage potential closure costs, specifically targeting 10% of average festival income. The independent examiner confirmed that accounting records were kept and financial statements accorded with those records.
What the accounts disclose
“Unrestricted reserves are set at 10% of the average income of a festival in order to be able to manage the closure of the charity at the most expensive time which would be mid festival while contracted with companies and artists.” — page 6
Trustees
- KATE WEBBchair
- Amy Nicholls
- Anna Duncan
- Haleema Maria Mekani
- Manya Benenson
- Sascha Karissa Goslin
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 01/04/2025 | £42k | £50k |
| 01/04/2024 | £153k | £164k |
| 01/04/2023 | £52k | £14k |
| 01/04/2022 | £120k | £141k |
| 01/04/2021 | £45k | £32k |
Common questions
Is Circus City financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £7,655 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in unrestricted reserves of £23,040. The trustees note that reserves are held to manage potential closure costs, specifically targeting 10% of average festival income. The independent examiner confirmed that accounting records were kept and financial statements accorded with those records. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds Circus City?
Funders whose own accounts filings name Circus City as a grant recipient include THE NISBET TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE NISBET TRUST | FY2024 | £10k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK government | 28/10/2021 | £32k | Culture Recovery Fund: Emergency Resource Support |