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Bow Arts Trust

Also known as: Bow Arts Education, The Nunnery Gallery

Bow Arts provides over 400 artists with affordable, secure and creative workspace across east London. It manages an exciting London-wide education programme, improving the lives and attainment of thousands of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Bow Arts also runs a contemporary exhibition space - the Nunnery Gallery - and a varied events and community engagement programme.

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Activities & Mission

Bow Arts provides over 400 artists with affordable, secure and creative workspace across east London. It manages an exciting London-wide education programme, improving the lives and attainment of thousands of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Bow Arts also runs a contemporary exhibition space - the Nunnery Gallery - and a varied events and community engagement programme.

Areas of Operation

Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.

Region

Financial Information

Latest Income
£5,051,179
Latest Expenditure
£3,693,675

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 66.8%
% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 18% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 780). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 91.4%
% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 37% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 3.3%
Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 60% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £971,061
Charitable Activities £3,643,503
Other Trading £316,460
Investments £61,403
Other Income £58,752

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £3,374,473
Raising Funds £28,843
Governance £94,521
Grants to Institutions £0
Other Expenditure £290,359

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.

Financial YearIncomeExpenditureCharitable SpendingNet AssetsReservesStaff
2025
£5,051,179
£3,693,675£3,374,473£5,317,782£5,141,94329 / 4
2024
£3,592,543
£2,890,689£2,466,777£3,961,653£3,726,43028 / 8
2023
£3,189,449
£2,601,375£2,206,289£3,259,799£2,967,08826 / 3
2022
£2,778,874
£2,137,444£1,908,358£2,671,725£909,98421 / 135
2021
£2,117,358
£1,737,706£1,641,141£2,074,532£941,00021 / 7

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Bow Arts Trust

What does Bow Arts Trust do?

Bow Arts provides over 400 artists with affordable, secure and creative workspace across east London. It manages an exciting London-wide education programme, improving the lives and attainment of thousands of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Bow Arts also runs a contemporary exhibition space - the Nunnery Gallery - and a varied events and community engagement programme.

How much income did Bow Arts Trust report in 2025?

Bow Arts Trust reported total income of £5.05m and reported expenditure of £3.69m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Bow Arts Trust?

Bow Arts Trust has a program ratio of 66.8%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 18% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 780 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Bow Arts Trust registered as a charity?

Bow Arts Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 6 June 1995 as charity number 1046958. It has been registered for 31 years.

Who runs Bow Arts Trust?

Bow Arts Trust is governed by a board of 11 trustees. The chair of trustees is MARTYN COLES M.A.. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Bow Arts Trust operate?

Bow Arts Trust operates in London, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.

Is Bow Arts Trust a registered charity?

Yes — Bow Arts Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1046958.

Details

Address
183 BOW ROAD
LONDON
E3 2SJ
Registration Date
6 June 1995
Status
Registered

Registry Information

Organisation Number
1046958
Charity Number
1046958

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Trustees

MARTYN COLES M.A. Chair
Benjamin Tucker
Catherine Phillippa Smith
Also governs 1 other charity
CHRISTOPHER JAMES BUSS
ELIZABETH ANN MARSHALL
John Michael Lewis
NICHOLAS WILLIAM SMALES
Sophie Nibbs
Tamirira Masunda
Tania Tina Thelma Rhodes-Taylor

Also Known As

  • Bow Arts Education
  • The Nunnery Gallery

Data & trust

Register data refreshed
14 May 2026
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