New spotlight on arts charity benefits

The Charity Commission is urging trustees of arts organisations to contribute to a consultation on its new draft guidance explaining how the principles of public benefit apply to charities that charge fees.

The guidance specifically includes reference to music, literary and other arts charities, including concert providers, theatres and art galleries. The Commission is not expecting large numbers of these charities to be unable to meet the public benefit requirement, but neither will it guarantee that every fee-charging charity currently registered will be able to show that, with its current activities and levels of fees, or with its existing structure, it meets that requirement. A key area of guidance covers the potentially exclusionary effect of fee-charging, and what a charity might need to do to ensure that people who are unable to afford the fees have the opportunity to benefit.

w: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk