WELCOME WEEK 2025
T R O P E R T C A IMP 6 2 0 2 5 2 20
warwickartscentre.co.uk 1
G N I ETH FOR
DAVE FREAK
SOM
WARWICK AR TS CENTRE ©
E N O Y R E V E This year has reminded us why Warwick Arts Centre matters. In a period of global economic uncertainty and increasing
We are delighted that 2025/26 has been one of our most successful
polarisation, our values have been tested. Throughout it all, we
years to date. More people than ever returned to Warwick Arts
have continued to do what we do best: create opportunities for
Centre more than once during the year, while growing numbers
people to come together, discover what connects us, and share
of first-time visitors from under-served communities discovered
in world-class arts and culture.
everything we have to offer. These achievements reflect our
As the University of Warwick marked its 60th anniversary, it is fitting to reflect on the bold vision of our founders, who
commitment to widening access, deepening engagement and ensuring that exceptional cultural experiences are available to all.
believed that a world-class arts centre on a university campus
Whether you have performed or exhibited in our spaces,
could make a profound difference to artists, audiences
contributed behind the scenes, provided philanthropic support
and communities. We celebrate that ambition, a spirit that
or been one of the thousands who came through our doors this
continues to shape our programme and inspire the work of the
year, we look forward to welcoming you back. And if you’ve not
team, artists and creative partners who make Warwick Arts
been yet we hope to see you soon.
Centre the region’s leading multi-artform venue.
Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor, University of Warwick Kwame Kwei-Armah, Chair, Advisory Board
a entre is k Arts C ic s w t r a lo “W ith space w g in m n o eve ts welc types of t n e r e ea of diff they hav d n es a g in ometim happen s too - s e e ic r p lt f u d c ur variety o es art an k a m h hic people.” free - w or more f le ib s s acce ent e comm Audienc
KWAME KWEI-ARMAH Chair, Advisory Board
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PROF. STUART CROFT Vice Chancellor, University of Warwick
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE IMPACT REPORT 2025-2026
WELCOME WEEK STAGE 2025
FINDIN
G
COMM O
N
GROUN
D DOREEN FOSTER © AYESHA JONES
There are few things more rewarding than reflecting on a year at Warwick Arts Centre and being reminded of the extraordinary range of opportunities to experience and participate in the arts. These experiences are made possible by the artists, partner organisations and colleagues who work together to bring ambitious and inspiring cultural experiences to audiences across our region and beyond. Building and diversifying those audiences remains a central priority. This year, our impact has been felt in more communities and by more people than ever before. Handle With Care!, our latest themed season, continued our commitment to exploring contemporary issues through arts and culture. By bringing together artists and thinkers with diverse perspectives, the season created space for conversations about some of society’s most pressing challenges, from the impact of dementia on families to reflecting on progress 60 years after the Race Relations Act.
DOREEN FOSTER
Creating opportunities for people from traditionally under-served communities remains
Director, Warwick Arts Centre
at the heart of our work. This year, we were delighted to use our commissioning fund to support new work through Made in the Midlands, our Artistic Associates and national partners. At a time when demand for creative funding continues to outstrip supply, this support matters more than ever. We ended the year with the launch of our new Community Ambassadors programme. Working alongside local communities, our ambassadors will help us better understand and connect with people who may feel that Warwick Arts Centre is not for them, or who simply do not yet know what we offer. I am looking forward to being challenged and surprised by what they tell us.
ME WE WELCO
Director, Warwick Arts Centre
EK 2025
Doreen Foster
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THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA
OUR C I T S I T AR E M M A R G O R P We continued to shape our Autumn/Winter programme around a central theme, connecting artistic excellence with contemporary social issues and creating opportunities for meaningful social impact. Under the banner of Handle with Care!, we explored how we care for ourselves, one another and our communities.
251,262 total admissions
990,359 annual footfall
15,127
We welcomed an exceptional range of artists and companies, many visiting our venue
gallery visitors
41% of bookers came at least twice a year
and the Midlands for the first time. Highlights included ZooCo’s award-winning Perfect Show for Rachel, the powerful Black-led musical Black Power Desk direct from Brixton House, and Theatre Re’s moving exploration of dementia, The Nature of Forgetting. We were also pleased to welcome back Graeae with their acclaimed production Bad Lads.
performances to sell-out events in the Butterworth Hall. Audiences enjoyed appearances from leading comedians and much-loved television personalities like Grayson Perry and Lenny Henry, alongside an outstanding music programme featuring artists including Macy Gray, John Grant, Max Cooper and Jools Holland. Jazz, global music and contemporary sounds also flourished, while improvised theatre favourites such as Showstopper! The Musical, Murder She Didn’t Write and Austentatious delighted audiences with their creativity and spontaneity. We continued to expand our programme for families and first-time attenders, welcoming audiences to productions such as our Christmas show The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Tales from Acorn Wood. We introduced parent-and-baby comedy and cinema screenings. We also broadened access to our visual arts programme through our first Gallery Early event, featuring the artist ICHI.
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WARWICK ARTS CENTRE IMPACT REPORT 2025-2026
GRAYSON PERRY
Our live programme remained as diverse as ever, spanning intimate studio
Supporting the University’s 60th anniversary celebrations, we delivered two significant projects: the return of Coventry-commissioned immersive VR experience In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats, and the Warwick at 60 talks series. Speakers including David Olusoga, Gary Younge, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason and Mina Smallman explored themes of race, identity and belonging, reflecting on the continuing relevance of these conversations 60 years after the Race Relations Act. Our Orchestral Series continued to grow in ambition and reach, featuring performances from Chineke!, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, showcasing world-class musicians alongside the next generation of exceptional talent.
“I visit W arwick Arts Ce times a ntre nu year an merous d it’s a gr wide ra eat ven nge of a ue with rtists a a cross a vailable section t o see o of artis everyo ff t ering s ne’s tas approp tes and riate fo in r terests Audien .” ce com ment
ROSHNI
WARWICK AT 60 TALK
NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA
DAIIGA GRANTINA, UNTITLED (2024). PHOTO: TOANVU-HUU
We delivered two major exhibitions by internationally acclaimed artists Takuro Kuwata and Daiga Grantina, bringing world-class contemporary art to the region and reinforcing Warwick Arts Centre’s national profile. Takuro Kuwata: Tea Bowl Punk, the artist’s first solo exhibition outside Japan, paired ambitious ceramic works with participatory making activities in a dedicated Making Space in partnership with Modern Clay. Lilacs, Grantina’s first UK solo exhibition, transformed the gallery into an immersive sculptural environment, complemented by creative learning opportunities that encouraged children, young people and
TAKURO KUWATA - TEA PUNK BOWL
families to engage with contemporary art.
ition. ing exhib n n u t s at to the “A ual; a tre s u n u t s t the Mo bizarre a d n a s e sens e.” same tim t ommen Visitor C MODE
RN CL
AY
5
DREAMERS © WE ARE PARABLE
50,383 cinema admissions
OUR
269
N I R A YE
different film titles
2,475
FILM
film screenings
Event Cinema events
HAMNET © UNIVERSAL
Across our three independent cinema screens, we presented a carefully curated mix of mainstream, independent and international film, ensuring something for everyone. From cinephiles exploring award contenders to families enjoying their first big-screen experience, audiences embraced the breadth of our programme, resulting in our strongest cinema attendance figures since re-opening in 2021.
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The year's releases generated an exceptional response. Audiences flocked to Hamnet, epic The Odyssey, while Wuthering Heights, The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Oscar Best Picture winner One Battle After Another also proved hugely popular. Documentaries including Holloway and The Voice of Hind Rajab attracted engaged audiences, alongside Event Cinema highlights such as NT Live: Inter Alia and Hamilton. This summer, we also invested in refurbished projection equipment, making Warwick Arts Centre the only venue in the West Midlands able to screen The Odyssey on 35mm film. In the autumn, our BFI and National Lottery-funded Handle With Care! season explored
THE ODYSSEY © UNIVERSAL
Chloe Zhao's moving adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel, and Christopher Nolan's
screenings and relaxed family films to thought-provoking talks and our first Deaf Film Club event, the season broadened access and participation, while a surprise visit from
CELIA IMRIE © NATIONAL LOTTERY
Celia Imrie provided a memorable highlight for our Film Club members.
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ema in dent cin n e ted p e d lms cura ible in fi s s f e o c n c a io t most he selec ), the “It’s the reciate t p he picks p a ic I n , e y r r t o ionate n m e v d Co ely pass in ters an u s n u e b g k e c ing ar the pric (both blo e people le r ib e s h s w e c e c her e how a viting, atmosp s, I admir staff is in t r e a h uite t e , h n t a ot and q s cle y p about s a o lw t a y s a nue is e very e ice.” is, the ve nings ar e e r a of cho c m s e d e in c n y io t m p ca lways t … It’s a frequen ent e comm Audienc WARWICK ARTS CENTRE IMPACT REPORT 2025-2026
35 MM THE ODYSSEY UNBOXING
how we care for ourselves and one another through cinema. From new Cosy Classics
G N I T R SUPPO K R O W NEW
We strive to play a vital role in supporting artists in the research, development and rehearsal stages of new work. The Helen Martin Studio has been used as development space by at least 8 creatives over the course of the year, often forming integral in-kind contributions to their funding applications and helping to secure the pipeline of future programme for the Arts Centre and the touring sector.
E
L DANC
PROPE
MADE IN THE MIDLANDS Made in the Midlands is our opportunity to showcase commissioned work from local artists. Using the season theme Handle with Care!, we funded three artists/ companies to develop their ideas, using our space and organisational support. We supported a new duet from the UK’s first allwheelchair professional dance company, Propel; extracts from a BSL-led new play from deaf theatre practitioner Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford; and a new work from poet and movement artist, Sipho Eric Ndlovu, charting his autobiographical transition to the UK.
SIPHO ERIC NDLOVU
EAVES
EARLY W
COMMISSIONS We were co-commissioners, supporting innovative new works from Lost Dog Dance and The Paper Birds, who workshopped their new play with our students and elders’ dance company Out of Whack in the Helen INUTE
Martin Studio. Two of our Artistic Associates, Fatt
S PER M
Butcher and Ascension Dance also developed new works with us. This investment in these artists’ creative
UGHT
development will materialise in all of them performing
48 THO
work on our stages as part of our 2026-27 season.
STREET TRIAGE: THE MUSICAL We supported NHS nurse Dr Alex Cotton MBE with the development of this new verbatim musical created by local community members with lived experience of male suicide – currently the single leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK. Street Triage performed to a sell-out audience in the Helen Martin Studio.
STREET TRIAGE
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PEOPLE’S TAKEOVER DAY
N O I T A P I C I T PAR AND G N I N R LEA
FAMILIES AND EARLY YEARS Our regular family programmes, Mini Creatives, Family Sundays, Musical Picnics and Family Singing welcome families and children to our spaces to connect with the arts through music,
Our Creative Engagement programme at Warwick Arts Centre aims to cultivate a sense of belonging, promote curiosity, connection and inclusivity and be representative of the community we serve.
visual arts, performance and more. Hosted in the foyer these regular, free artist-led sessions mean there are always fun and accessible creative activities for families to engage.
6,508
This year we have worked with 41,940 attendees across 1,047 free
engagements in family activity over
CREATIVE SOCIALS
81 sessions, delivered by our Creative Learning and Music Centre teams “This is such a lovely session. I love that I can socialise w ith other parent s.” Participant, M ini Creatives
PLATFORM
CLASSROOM OF CREATIVITY
communities, students, children and young people.
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WARWICK ARTS CENTRE IMPACT REPORT 2025-2026
MINI CREATIVES
learning and participation events, welcoming families, schools,
YOUTH LEADERSHIP COLLECTIVE YLC is our creative leadership programme for young people aged 16–21 from Coventry, delivered in partnership with YMCA Heart of England. The programme empowers young people to share their voices, shape the city’s cultural landscape, and advocate for a creative future. Supported by a creative mentor, the Collective developed skills in leadership, collaboration, and creative production. This year, the Collective created and produced their own film and exhibition, SEEN, shown across the foyer and cinema.
24 creative development sessions
5 Industry-Led Workshops
15 young people
LE YOUTH
E
LLECTIV
HIP CO
ADERS
my life, r once in o f e k li “It felt oice.” I had a v ticipant YLC Par
WORK WITH SCHOOLS: THE CLASSROOM OF CREATIVITY This is our inspiring and immersive programme for schoolchildren aged 5 – 7 which harnesses the power of art to boost creativity, confidence, and connection for both pupils and teachers and delivered across 4 schools in Coventry’s most economically disadvantaged areas. The year culminated in an exhibition of pupil’s work in the Theatre Bar and a Making Space for the Mead Gallery that encouraged playful interaction of the Daiga Grantina exhibition.
“I liked looking at the art. My favourite wa s the one that was reall y shiny and sparkly.” Classroom of Creativ ity Pupil
worked e artist h t y a w ught s the m and ta light wa e h e t ig s h e y “M ’s self children ht level. with the t the rig a ls il k s they cus p when them cir u t li n e ces th Their fa ing.” someth d e v ie h ac cher ivity Tea t a e r C f mo Classroo CLASSROOM OF CREATIVITY
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BL ACK
OPEN MIC
T N E D STU T N E M E G A G N E
UNTIT
E TOUR BACKSTAG
At the heart of the University of Warwick, Warwick Arts Centre continues to enrich the student experience through creativity, performance and participation. MUSIC CENTRE
STUDENT PERFORMANCES
In 2025-26, we recorded more than 30,000 engagements with
We continue to support University of Warwick students to perform
students, staff and the wider community. Across 64 concerts,
on our stages. We help students to develop their shows through
gigs and informal performances, including 9 Open Mic events,
each step of the producing and creative process from pitch pack
students had opportunities to perform, collaborate and develop
through production design through to box office and marketing.
their talent in the Music Centre. Highlights included the continued growth of the Songwriting and Indian Classical Music programmes, national success for student ensembles, and student-led showcases such as the West Midlands A Cappella Showcase and Soundwave. The University’s 60th Anniversary Virtual Choir brought together more than 50 students and alumni in a unique performance alongside the University Symphony Orchestra.
DEVELOPING THE STUDENT VOICE Our student-led PLATFORM programme championed emerging
11 new student society shows supported from pitch to performance
120+ student-led performances across our auditoria and public spaces
talent through 7 ambitious productions, created in partnership with student societies including Warwick A Cappella, Warwick Caribbean Culture and For Black Boys, helping to amplify student voices and celebrate the breadth of creativity across campus.
CREATIVE SOCIALS Our weekly Creative Socials remain a popular way for students
like this for st something o h g to le ab g s, and workin “Bein ant a lot to u e m y it le n o u h m w our com ple made the pportive peo ly feels like with such su special. It tru re o m n e ev created, experience eaningful was m d an l u tf ac p hout you.” something im e done it wit av h t n’ ld u co and we ticipant Platform Par
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to connect, with 31 free workshops engaging 668 participants throughout the year. Welcome Week 2025 featured 41 artist and student-led sessions attended by more than 2,700 students.
“It’s the b est arts v enue out Fabulous side of Lo studio giv ndon. ing stude needed p nt theatre latform s a muchhowcasin theatre p g our nex erformer t generat s, creator ion of s and bac Student kstage cre commen w.” t
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE IMPACT REPORT 2025-2026
LED
PEOPLE’S TAKEOVER DAY
Our flagship programme, Playing Out, continues to flourish in Canley, with local residents leading its development through a community steering group. Together, they shape activities, deliver workshops, produce a local newsletter and organise the annual Canley Parade, creating opportunities for people to connect, celebrate and take ownership of their cultural life. Out of Whack, our Elders' Dance Company, has continued to grow through weekly sessions that support creativity, wellbeing and social connection. This year, the group collaborated with Ascension Dance to deliver its annual Hold Your Own event, bringing people of different generations together through dance. In November, our People's Takeover Day transformed our spaces with a vibrant programme created and delivered by local residents and community groups, celebrating the breadth of creativity across our region.
MEET OUR COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS This year we also launched our new Community Ambassadors programme, recruiting four ambassadors from Tile Hill, Foleshill and Hillfields to strengthen local relationships, champion community voices and help shape our future work.
ANNE
KATE
LORAINE MASIYA
volunteers
1,700 people in our community engaged with our work
61 sessions delivered with local communities
408 participants at our People’s Takeover Day OUT OF WHACK IN REHEARSAL
Our commitment to community extends beyond our campus location. Through creative participation, shared experiences and community leadership, we work with local people to ensure the arts remain welcoming, accessible and relevant to all.
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PEOPLE’S TAKEOVER DAY
Y T I N U COMM T N E M E G A G EN
MICHELLE
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Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging shapes how we welcome audiences, support artists, engage communities and develop our workforce.
OUR Y E N R U JO R A F O S
This year, we continued to turn that commitment into action. We invested in accessible performances, including captioning, audio description and BSL interpretation, while improving aspects of our buildings, website and booking systems to create a more inclusive experience for visitors. Internally, we reviewed recruitment and induction processes, expanded staff development opportunities and created new spaces for learning and collaboration. Programmes such as Alternative Voices have helped deepen our understanding of the experiences of neurodivergent colleagues, artists and audiences. Alongside this, we have continued to embed anti-racist and equitable practices across our work, strengthening relationships and fostering a greater sense of belonging for all who engage with Warwick Arts Centre.
EMILY
SUPPORTED INTERNSHIPS Warwick Arts Centre participated in this business-led, one-year work-preparation programme for young people with learning disabilities and/or autism spectrum conditions in their transition from education at Hereward College into work. Emily completed a Supported Internship at Warwick Arts Centre in 2026.
I’ve also had d singers and an ns ia ed m members. ers, co ards and staff tors, perform ac ew st et m of e am I’v e te azing ain base is “In my tim ork with an am station. My m w k to ac ty sn ni d tu an ace and find cinemas the oppor e Making Sp the theatre, th in t ou ng ki ab or w em ll th ship I en joyed people in, te t. The intern here I invite k or the table oo b e th on the gallery, w a review ant to leave near me.” out if they w k somewhere or w nd fi e m ed really help
Here’s her story:
ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING Lucy, part of our Box Office team, was one of a number of staff who took part in our accessibility training programme, Alternative Voices. In the six-month project, Lucy explored practical approaches to neurodiversity and accessibility. She has now introduced changes within her team, including clearer communication, wellbeing check-ins and adaptations to the working environment. Additional training with Guide Dogs UK and the Royal Association for Deaf People further strengthened staff LUCY
understanding of visual impairment and Deaf awareness.
R UTCHE FATT B
HANDLE WITH CARE! The Handle with Care! season gave rise to a lasting legacy by implementing a Care Pledge made to all our visiting artists. Supported by our Artistic Associates, we drew up a pledge on our commitment to accessibility, gender inclusivity and anti-racism that will inform how we welcome and look after the many artists with whom we are fortunate to work.
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er & felt relaxed and “I am a wheelchair us . Would recommend en joyed my time here other show.” and would attend an Audience comment
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE IMPACT REPORT 2025-2026
Y T I L I B A N I A T SUS S E I R O ST
MEAD GALLERY WASTE REVIEW This year we identified that 75% of the gallery’s waste could be diverted
Our commitment to sustainability transcends the building, our people and our programme. We have proved that careful monitoring and practical operational changes can create meaningful progress towards a more sustainable future. INSPIRING AUDIENCES TO ENGAGE WITH CLIMATE AND NATURE We’ve used the power of film to engage audiences with some of the most pressing current environmental issues. By curating films that educate, provoke discussion and inspire action, our cinema is helping audiences connect with environmental issues. We’ve programmed films, documentaries and special events that address the climate crisis.
maintaining the high standards expected of a leading contemporary arts venue. Clearer understanding of where targeted investment can deliver the greatest environmental benefits means we use more paper-based packaging, reusable protective materials and recyclable display systems. We repurpose display boards, MDF sheets and protective packaging. This helps reduce waste and maximise the lifespan of materials.
rainforests; The Shepherd and the Bear, a documentary examining wildlife reintroduction
T AVID A WITH D
in the French Pyrenees; and screenings marking David Attenborough’s 100th birthday,
OCEAN
Highlights included family animation Savages, which explored the threats facing Borneo’s
from general waste streams whilst
including A Life on Our Planet and Ocean. A sold-out screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing brought together audiences and representatives from the local Wildlife Trust to discuss the latest evidence on the UK’s
TENBO
climate and nature crisis.
ROUGH
SUSTAINABLE SET DESIGN AND REUSE IN STUDENT PRODUCTIONS Our technical team is helping to reduce waste and promote sustainable production practices. The team prioritises durable, adaptable designs that can be repurposed across multiple productions and shared with other organisations when no longer required. Large scenic flats and other scenery is reused, extending their lifespan and reducing the need for new construction materials. Other long-term assets include a custom-built false proscenium, which has already been used on four productions. To further support circular practices, we’ve joined theatre set exchange initiatives which enable unwanted scenery, props and materials to be offered for reuse rather than disposal. By designing for longevity, encouraging creative reuse and participating in networks, Warwick Arts Centre is demonstrating how sustainable practices can be successfully integrated into performance production.
We recycled an average of
4.99 TONNES of recycled waste on-average per month – more than a tonne more than the previous year!
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“It’s su ch a w onder challe fu nging films t l venue: it s space hows hat do in the n’t alw mains having a y t r s get eam c event inema s whe other s r . Also e the d s asso , ciated irecto talk af r or with t terwa he pro rds is ductio such a Audie n specia nce co l thing mmen .” t
L A I C N FINA N O I T A M R O F IN The last 5 years of admissions and ticketing data. ALL ADMISSIONS
*Admissions includes live events, cinema and gallery
250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000
128,724
156,319
191,258
198,252
211,473
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26
79,635
107,050
133,892
134,193
145,565
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26
0
TICKETED ADMISSIONS - LIVE 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0
TICKETED ADMISSIONS - CINEMA 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 0
38,675
34,764
43,289
48,066
50,781
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26
10,000 0
*Dates 1 Apr – 31 Mar
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WARWICK ARTS CENTRE IMPACT REPORT 2025-2026
VOLUNTEE
RS
42%
ARTS CENT RE
ANNUAL TURNOVER 2025-2026
58%
Total earned income (tickets, retail/catering, fundraising) WELCOME
Total subsidy income (The University of Warwick, Arts Council England, The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, other public)
WEEK 2025
TOTAL TURNOVER £9,004,000
INCOME
EXPENDITURE
5%
3%
1% 4%
14% 24%
28%
34%
17%
32%
University of Warwick Support
35%
28%
Equipment, Premises & Depreciation
35%
Staff Costs
35%
17%
Box Office, Artistic Programme & Creative Learning
24%
14%
Customer Services & Marketing
4%
Commercial Activity
5%
Support & Administration
1%
Equipment, Premises and Depreciation
3%
Box Office, Artistic Programme & Creative Learning
32%
Customer Services & Marketing Donations, Sponsorship & Grants
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WE
LCO
ME
WE
EK
SISSOKO
OKAN
PA N
DA
KIT
ASHAAN AKBAR
DE W AAL © PAUL CROW THER
CONCERTO BUDAPEST © HROTKO BALINT
THANK YOU TO OUR ADVISORY BOARD 2025-2026: Kwame Kwei-Armah (Chair) Morag Small Sandeep Mahal Lee Fisher Prof. Rachel Moseley Last Mafuba
STORY FORGE – MAKE YOUR OWN MYTH
PERFECT SHOW FOR RACHEL
Daksha Piparia Ade Johnson
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7FD 16
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE IMPACT REPORT 2025-2026