Accountants for arts and culture
Specialist accountants for arts and culture organisations and artists
WallsMan Creative handles Theatre, Orchestra and Museums and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief claims, cultural VAT, grant accounting and charity structures.
What we do for arts and culture
WallsMan Creative is an ICAEW-regulated chartered practice working exclusively with the creative industries, acting for theatres, orchestras, museums, galleries, arts charities and individual artists across London, Kingston upon Thames and the UK.
- Cultural tax relief claims: Theatre Tax Relief, Orchestra Tax Relief and Museums and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief
- VAT: cultural exemption, partial exemption, mixed income from admissions, shop, café and hire
- Grant and funding accounting: Arts Council England, National Lottery, trusts and foundations, with the reporting funders require
- Charity and trading subsidiary structures: including Gift Aid on profits and getting the relationship right
- Corporation Tax and year-end accounts: including for organisations whose only reason for touching Corporation Tax is a relief claim
- Self Assessment: for individual artists, including averaging relief where profits fluctuate
- Payroll: permanent staff, performers, technicians and freelance creatives
- International and withholding tax: for artists selling abroad and organisations paying non-resident performers
- Management reporting: by production, exhibition, programme or funding stream
- Cash-flow forecasting: around funding cycles rather than financial years
Who we work with in the art sector
- Theatres and theatre companies: producing and receiving houses, touring companies, fringe and studio
- Orchestras and ensembles: where Orchestra Tax Relief applies at the higher rate
- Museums, galleries and archives: charitable and commercial, permanent and touring exhibitions
- Arts centres and multi-arts venues: where mixed income makes VAT genuinely complicated
- Commercial galleries and dealers: where the art market’s international dimension dominates
- Independent and visual artists: selling through galleries, commissions, prizes, teaching and residencies
- Arts charities and CICs: with trustees, funders and reporting obligations
- Festivals and cultural producers: where the picture overlaps with our events clients
How WallsMan Creative works with artists
How much of the finance work an artist hands over varies enormously, so we set the arrangement to suit rather than to a fixed package.
Every client has a named account manager, and questions asked during the year are part of the arrangement rather than billed separately.
We start with a free consultation, and if you already have an accountant, we handle the whole switch including contacting them and transferring your records.
In practice, clients tend to fall into one of three patterns.
Guided support
You keep your own records through the year and we handle the returns, the deadlines and the questions as they come up. This suits artists with one or two income streams who want a second opinion rather than a service.
Full handover
We take on bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and all filing, so the finance side is off your desk entirely. This suits busy practices, galleries and organisations with staff.
A mix of both
We cover the routine work and step in properly when something complex arrives — a large commission, a grant, an overseas sale, or a decision about going limited.
Reasons why we're the best accountants for arts and culture
We know you're special
There are a range of special schemes and tax credits for Arts and Culture, we know them all and can tell you if any of them are for you.
Every project counts
We know each project needs to be maximised, be it for profit or for the portfolio. We can help you get the most out of them all.
Support on demand
Creative life can be hectic, unexpected things come up and need to be resolved ASAP. We are on hand to help you when you most need it.
Take the pressure off
We help our clients feel secure and free to focus on their projects. We are a safe pair of hands and supportive partner you can rely on.
Which sounds like you?
Irregular income, multiple streams and quiet months. We build your numbers around how you actually earn.
- Personal tax
- Self Assessment
- First-time freelancer
- Thinking about going limited
Corporation tax, dividends, payroll & the full suite of creative-sector reliefs. Tailored for your business.
- VAT
- Payroll
- Year-end accounts
- R&D/creative reliefs and funding
“As a small grassroots creative start up and freelancer, I've been delighted and assured to work with such a personal, knowledgeable, professional and friendly accountant. It's made a big difference to our business!”
Frequently Asked Questions about accounting for arts & culture
Yes. WallsMan Creative works exclusively with creative industries, including artists, galleries, arts organisations, and cultural institutions. With over 10 years of experience, we understand how creative income, funding, and commissions work in the arts sector.
Of course! We regularly advise artists and arts organisations on grants, public funding, and cultural support schemes, ensuring they are reported correctly and tax-efficiently.
Yes. We specialise in managing irregular income from commissions, exhibitions, teaching, licensing, and saless... all common challenges for artists and cultural professionals.
We help you claim eligible expenses such as studio rent, materials, tools, travel, marketing, exhibition costs, and professional fees, based on real experience in the arts sector.
We provide clear guidance on VAT registration, exemptions, reduced rates, and mixed VAT activities often seen in arts and cultural work.
All of them! We work with galleries, collectives, charities, and non-profit cultural organisations, supporting them with compliant accounting, reporting, and financial planning.
Yes. We regularly help artists move from hobbyist to professional status (sole trader, startup, small business, sole trader to limited company etc), setting up the right structure and ensuring compliance as income grows.
Because we exclusively serve creative industries. Our 10+ years of experience, deep understanding of the arts sector, and practical, supportive approach mean advice that truly fits creative and cultural work.
Understand your funding and tax options as an artist
Guides and resources to help arts and culture practices pay less tax and make smarter financial decisions.
Written by our team, for creative businesses like yours.
Related services
We offer a full range of services from the very basic to in depth business consultancy on specialist projects.
We usually create a package based on each businesses specific needs, size and budget. Tell us whats happening in your world and we will offer solutions.