The Orleans House Trust was scheduled to meet on Friday, 3 October 2025, to discuss the annual report of activities delivered at Orleans House Gallery and to approve the report of the trustees and the statement of financial activities.

Arts Service Annual Report

The Richmond Arts Service annual report of activities delivered at Orleans House Gallery (OHG) in 2024/5 was scheduled to be noted. The report noted that there had been 43,100 in-person visits, and a total commercial turnover of over £168,000. The annual museum survey estimated that the total impact of the gallery on the local economy was over £1.4 million.

The report stated that the Arts Service had focused on embedding the gallery in the local arts ecology, and local learning networks. It also noted that the gallery had become the centre of a network of artists in West London, through the creation of the Visual Artists Network, the development of the Artists Make Space programme, and the Emerging Artists programme.

The report mentioned some of the key projects delivered in 2024/25, including exhibitions by Borough based artist Kate Howe, Gary Stewart, and a summary show marking halfway between Climate Emergency and Net Zero. It also noted that later in 2025, Libby Heaney would be exploring JMW Turner in Shadowscapes, which would feature some loaned Turner oils from Tate.

The report stated that the Arts and Culture sector as a whole is under significant financial pressure and high inflation continues to put pressure on the gallery's budget. It also noted that the Gallery is still committed to offering a range of high-quality arts programming free at the point of delivery or at an affordable price and that it also commits to paying artists fairly for their work. The Arts Service will focus on improving its ability to raise income over the coming three years.

Report of the Trustees

The report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2025 was scheduled to be approved. The report included the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2025. The Trustees confirmed that they had referred to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Trust's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities.

The report noted that the major assets held by the Trust are the baroque octagonal room, extension wings, stable block and surrounding land at Orleans House. These were valued in January 2025 at £7,977,000 whilst the art collection is valued at £992,000.

The report stated that the Trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees' annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.

Statement of Financial Activities

The statement of financial activities for the year ending 31 March 2025 was scheduled to be approved.

The statement included the following information:

• Receipts and payments
• Assets and liabilities
• Accounting policies
• Related party transactions and Trustees' expenses and renumeration
• Tangible fixed assets
• Current assets
• Tangible fixed assets – movement in year

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2025 were scheduled to be approved. At that meeting, Councillor Julia Neden-Watts was elected to chair the meeting of the Orleans House Trust. The Arts Service annual report of activities delivered at Orleans House Gallery 23/24 was noted, and the Orleans House Trust agreed to provide seed funding for the acquisition of a painting by Phoebe Boswell, and for the commission of a Bat Roost sculpture by Nestor Pestana, subject to the results of the public consultation and permissions. The Orleans House Trust also agreed to provide seed funding for the development and documentation of the seed sculpture and garden by Andy Merritt. The report of the Trustees was approved, as was the Statement of Financial Activities.