SOUTHBANK CENTRE
Arts Centre
Latest income
£58.3m
Latest spending
£63.6m
Registered
1988
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity incurred an operating deficit of £1.4m, reducing free reserves to £5.1m, which is marginally below the stated policy target of £5.55m. Per the trustees' report, the organization remains financially resilient with total reserves of £222m and sufficient cash resources to meet obligations for at least twelve months.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £5.1m)
“The current level of £5.07m is marginally lower than our target and we will seek to supplement this during the year to 31 March 2026.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donations from Trustees
“Donations from Trustees were £58,250 (2024: £65,243). The American Fund for Southbank Centre Inc. ("American Fund") provides a tax efficient method for Southbank Centre to receive donations from US based donors. During the year, Southbank Centre received USD 263,975 (2024: USD 151,263) from the American Fund.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Pension scheme deficit: £500k
“An estimated valuation on the current technical provisions basis specific to the scheme shows a deficit of £0.5m and a deficit on a buyout basis of £3.2m.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Southbank Centre Enterprises Limited
“Southbank Centre Enterprises Limited manages certain commercial activities on the Southbank estate. The results of Southbank Centre Enterprises Limited are consolidated on a line-by-line basis with those of Southbank Centre.” — page 27
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Year-over-year changes
- Reserves position vs the charity's own policy moved from "above" (FY2024) to "below" (FY2025).
In the news
- Yuja Wang virtual exhibition opens at the Southbank Centre
- Ted Hodgkinson To Leave Southbank Centre & Join Hay Festival As Creative Director
- Snog opens psychedelic pop-up bus at Southbank Centre
- Event review: Playing With Fire at Spirit Level, Southbank Centre
- Southbank Centre Hosts Hands-on Creative Tech Workshops This Weekend
- Feature: THE MOTH MAINSTAGE: TIGHTROPE at The Southbank Centre
- Review – Playing With Fire: Virtual Reality at the Southbank Centre
- Exploring Creative Intelligence with London’s Southbank Centre
UK research funding (UKRI Gateway to Research)
- Songwriting Studies Research Network
- Innovation and Knowledge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction - Collaborative Programme Tranche 1
- Favela to the World: a Knowledge Transfer collaboration between People's Palace Projects (QMUL) & the AfroReggae UK Partnership
- CSIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre Phase 2
- Sequins, Self & Struggle: Performing and Archiving Sex, Place and Class in Pageant Competitions in Cape Town
- Poetry in Expanded Translation
- Innovation and Knowledge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction - Collaborative Programme Tranche 2
- Innovation Knowledge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction
- Beyond the Frame: Indian-British Connections
- You Can Make History: Extending and developing youth engagement in cultural heritage.
Property (HM Land Registry)
Advertised salaries (public job ads)
- Financial Accountant — £60,000 per year
- Production Operations Coordinator — £33,300 per year
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Total income
£58.3m
Total spending
£63.6m
Cost of raising funds
£1.4m
Reserves (reported)
£5.1m
Employees
539
Trustees
- Southbank Centre Limited
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £58.3m | £63.6m |
| 31/03/2024 | £53.9m | £56.6m |
| 31/03/2023 | £53.3m | £53.9m |
| 31/03/2022 | £43.2m | £42.4m |
| 31/03/2021 | £36.2m | £37.2m |
Common questions
Is SOUTHBANK CENTRE financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity incurred an operating deficit of £1.4m, reducing free reserves to £5.1m, which is marginally below the stated policy target of £5.55m. Per the trustees' report, the organization remains financially resilient with total reserves of £222m and sufficient cash resources to meet obligations for at least twelve months. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.
Who funds SOUTHBANK CENTRE?
Funders whose own accounts filings name SOUTHBANK CENTRE as a grant recipient include THE ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION, PRISM THE GIFT FUND, THE KARLSSON JATIVA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE RORY AND ELIZABETH BROOKS FOUNDATION, ATKIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Bridge Foundation | 29/08/2024 | £51k | Grant to Southbank Centre |
| UK government | 29/03/2023 | £757k | Arts Council Collection Management |
| UK government | 20/01/2023 | £1.2m | Investment funds |
| UK government | 20/01/2023 | £667k | Investment funds |
| UK government | 20/10/2022 | £16.8m | National Portfolio Organisations |
| City Bridge Foundation | 17/10/2022 | £100k | Grant to Southbank Centre |
| UK government | 02/03/2022 | £750k | Arts Council Collection Management |
| UK government | 09/12/2021 | £18.7m | National Portfolio Organisations |
| UK government | 07/05/2021 | £605k | Investment Funds |
| The Mercers' Company | 26/06/2019 | £100k | Grant to Southbank Centre |
| UK government | 03/09/2018 | £757k | Arts Council Collection Management |
| Greater London Authority | 30/08/2018 | £700k | Southbank Undercroft Transformation Project |
| Sport England | 03/04/2018 | £100k | Improve and expand existing skate park |
| UK government | 21/06/2017 | £18.7m | National Portfolio Organisations |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 22/07/2014 | £5.0m | "Saving Southbank Centre's 60's Buildings" |
| City Bridge Foundation | 16/07/2014 | £4k | Grant to Southbank Centre |
| City Bridge Foundation | 26/04/2012 | £120k | Grant to Southbank Centre |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 15/03/2011 | £46k | "Festival '51 View Points (replaces pre-application title of Festival of Britain)" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 26/11/2009 | £950k | "Royal Festival Hall Organ Project" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 24/01/2003 | £22.2m | "Royal Festival Hall: Restoration and Renovation (Auditorium)" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 14/07/1999 | £450k | "Royal Festival Hall Restoration" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 23/07/1996 | £30k | "Royal Festival Hall- Restoration and Refurbishment" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| BAGRI FOUNDATION | 1 | £698k |
| CYNGOR CELFYDDYDAU CYMRU | 1 | £211k |
| THE FREELANDS FOUNDATION LIMITED | 1 | £35k |
| THE GOLSONCOTT FOUNDATION | 1 | £29k |
| COLWINSTON CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £14k |
| THE ADRIAN SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £10k |
| SOMERSET COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | 1 | £7k |
| WILFRID AND CONSTANCE CAVE FOUNDATION | 1 | £5k |
Charities like this
- CAMBRIDGE SPORTS HALL TRUST LIMITED
- Culture& Arts and Heritage
- WARE ARTS CENTRE LIMITED
- ALL ARTS & MEDIA LTD
- NATIONAL YOUTH ARTS WALES
- SOUTH LONDON THEATRE CENTRE LIMITED
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTHBANK CENTRE | £58.3m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| CAMBRIDGE SPORTS HALL TRUST LIMITED | £1.2m | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| Culture& Arts and Heritage | £523k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| WARE ARTS CENTRE LIMITED | £229k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| ALL ARTS & MEDIA LTD | £99k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NATIONAL YOUTH ARTS WALES | £1.2m | £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | within | — | no doubt |