INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS LIMITED
Registered charity 236848 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as ICA
Established in 1947, the ICA is the UK's original, multi-disciplinary arts centre, existing today to create a space for new, experimental and independent arts practice and ideas. Housing two galleries, two cinemas, a theatre, learning room, studio, bookshop and bar, the ICA presents an international programme of work across artforms to a wide and diverse range of audiences.
Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts
The accounts state that the charity recorded a net deficit of £127k for the year, resulting in a decrease in total funds to £1.524m. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted free reserves stood at £258k, covering approximately five weeks of operating costs, which is below the stated policy target of three months. The trustees have identified a material uncertainty regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern due to limited cash headroom and uncertain income streams.
Automated summary of the FY2026 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: three months (held: £258k)
“Our reserves policy dictates that unrestricted general funds (excluding designated funds) must provide adequate working capital to sustain our core programme and other activities, and to manage medium-term risk, for a period of approximately three months” — page 16
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Going concern: material uncertainty disclosed
“The Trustees consider that a material uncertainty remains, primarily reflecting limited cash headroom, the timing and control of certain income streams, and the delivery of mitigating actions. This material uncertainty may cast significant doubt on the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern.”
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: ICA Enterprises Limited made a gift aided donation of £291,305 to the ICA.
“ICA Enterprises Limited made a gift aided donation of £291,305 (2025: £247,140) to the ICA.” — page 36
“A management charge of £77,000 (2025: £88,486) was charged by the ICA to the trading subsidiary, ICA Enterprises Limited.” — page 36
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: ICA charged a management fee of £77,000 to its trading subsidiary, ICA Enterprises Limited.
“ICA Enterprises Limited made a gift aided donation of £291,305 (2025: £247,140) to the ICA.” — page 36
“A management charge of £77,000 (2025: £88,486) was charged by the ICA to the trading subsidiary, ICA Enterprises Limited.” — page 36
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The ICA received £67,937 in donations from Board members.
“ICA Enterprises Limited made a gift aided donation of £291,305 (2025: £247,140) to the ICA.” — page 36
“A management charge of £77,000 (2025: £88,486) was charged by the ICA to the trading subsidiary, ICA Enterprises Limited.” — page 36
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: ICA Enterprises Limited
“The charitable company owns the whole of the issued ordinary share capital of ICA Enterprises Limited, a company with registration number 01461527 in England . The subsidiary is used for non-primary purpose trading activities.” — page 38
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts audited by Sayer Vincent LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.
Property (HM Land Registry)
1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2026)
Cost of raising funds
£258k
Reported reserves equal ~0.7 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (39% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.
Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 6.3% of total income — above the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).
- Professor Dame Henrietta Louise Moore DBEchair
- Alia Al-Senussi · trustee of 2 other charities
- Charles Asprey
- David Kolbusz
- Emily Sheffield
- Leopold Thun-Hohenstein
- Michael John Clayton
- Nabihah Iqbal
- Reema Selhi
- Steven Wills
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Throughout England And Wales
Income and spending
Common questions
Is INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS LIMITED financially healthy?
Per its FY2026 accounts: The accounts state that the charity recorded a net deficit of £127k for the year, resulting in a decrease in total funds to £1.524m. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted free reserves stood at £258k, covering approximately five weeks of operating costs, which is below the stated policy target of three months. The trustees have identified a material uncertainty regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern due to limited cash headroom and uncertain income streams. Its FY2026 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
Who funds INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS LIMITED?
Funders whose own accounts filings name INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS LIMITED as a grant recipient include THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).
Funders of similar charities
Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.
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Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with IKON GALLERY LIMITED.
Side by side with its peers
Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.