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Impact Report 2025/26

The RWA's Impact Report 2025/26, shared 16 October 2026, reports more than 128,000 visitors, 2,400+ people in learning and engagement activities, over GBP100,000 in exhibition sales supporting artists, 4,800 volunteer hours, and GBP92,000 raised through the Secret Postcard Auction.

Report snapshot
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About

An independent art gallery charity in Bristol presenting exhibitions, supporting artists and delivering learning programmes for all ages

Key Metrics

Visitors welcomed 128,000+ visitors welcomed to the RWA in 2025-26 for ambitious exhibitions and public programmes
Learning and engagement 2,400+ people took part in learning and engagement activities connecting people of all ages with art
Volunteer hours 4,800 volunteer hours contributed to support the RWA; Secret Postcard Auction raised £92,000 for charitable work

Key Outcomes

  • Artists supported through exhibitions, professional development and over GBP100,000 in exhibition sales
  • Audiences connected with world-class artists and ideas, building lifelong relationships with art across communities
  • Grade II* listed cultural landmark preserved and sustained as an independent charity raising over GBP1m a year

Geography

South West

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
Total income £138,600,000 and total expenditure £108,350,000 (year ended 31 March 2025, charity no. 1068852); 5 million people welcomed through palace gates; £138.6m income...
Key Metric 2
Over 160,000 members making 300,000+ visits generating £5.8m membership income plus £814k Gift Aid; 217,400 £1 Universal Credit tickets sold; 304,000 visitors to Untold...
Key Metric 3
89% of visitors gained a better understanding of stories (discovery); 83% felt happier after their visit (joy); 76% were inspired to learn more; 28,365...
83% of visitors felt happier after their visit; 89% gained better understanding of palace stories; 94% charitable activities allocation of total expenditure; Tomorrow's Tower campaign secured £1.9m including £1m from Sandys Trust and National Lottery Heritage Fund development grant
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
3,943 young people reached across 279 learning sessions in 16 programmes; 46 public performances reaching 8,517 audience members
Key Metric 2
100+ Emerging Professionals supported with 159 paid performance opportunities; 32% from regions beyond London; 32% from African, Asian, Caribbean or Mixed Heritage backgrounds
Key Metric 3
46% of Under-18 participants receive bursaries; 46% benefit from free access (Pupil Premium, free school meals or low-income families)
Largest single concert audience of 1,500 for British Standard Time at Berlin's Konzerthaus; NYJO Under 18s alumni have gone on to Birmingham Conservatoire, Leeds Conservatoire and Cambridge University
Impact Snapshot
Fellows worldwide
Around 2,800 Fellows connected worldwide, joining a global community of scholars, archaeologists, historians and heritage enthusiasts.
Public engagement
More than 3.7 million combined engagements across Society channels, estimated at over 2.2 million individuals, with 20,000+ social media followers.
Publications reach
56,868 e-book downloads, 6 new e-books published and 18 funded projects totaling over £30,000.
Scotlands past was researched, shared, enjoyed and protected by more people, with national research frameworks and public engagement projects supporting scholars, communities and grassroots heritage initiatives.
Impact Snapshot
Sales generated
Over £6.5 million in sales generated by publicly funded programmes in 2025/26.
Livelihoods supported
Around 13,500 artists, musicians and nano creative enterprises supported across the UK.
Return on investment
£9 returned to the creative economy for every £1 of public investment received.
Artists, musicians and nano creative enterprises gained vital income and business support, strengthening a thriving and inclusive creative economy.