Mac New Work Trust
Charity 1010184
Overview
Summary
Mac New Work Trust appears to be a specialist arts-enabling charity whose role is closely connected to Midlands Arts Centre (MAC). Rather than presenting itself primarily as a direct arts provider, it seems designed to strengthen MAC’s capacity to create, acquire and present new work, while retaining a broader public-education purpose. Its use of grants suggests it may operate through investment in artists and organisations as well as through commissions, positioning it as a potential bridge between an arts venue and the wider creative ecosystem.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Edgbaston
Confidence: high
Direct evidence shows the trust currently funds MAC exhibitions delivered at Midlands Arts Centre in Cannon Hill Park. Birmingham City Council identifies Midlands Arts Centre within the South Edgbaston Growth Zone, which falls in Edgbaston ward.
- MAC Birmingham, Su Richardson: In Stitches exhibition page
The exhibition ran at MAC's Arena Gallery from 8 March to 1 June 2025 and was stated to be made possible by MAC New Work Trust. - MAC Birmingham, The Offbeat Sari exhibition page
The exhibition ran at MAC's First Floor and Arena Galleries from 28 June to 2 November 2025 and was stated to be supported by MAC New Work Trust. - Birmingham City Council, Growth Zones Background Paper, October 2025
The South Edgbaston Growth Zone includes Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) and falls within the wards of Edgbaston and Balsall Heath West; MAC is identified in the Edgbaston part of this area.
Remaining uncertainties
- The direct current project evidence identifies activity at MAC, but does not identify the individual artists, organisations or other beneficiaries receiving grants, so any additional Birmingham locations reached through grant-making are unknown.
- The Charity Commission records that the trust operates in Birmingham City, supporting a citywide overall footprint, but it does not provide a ward-by-ward breakdown of expenditure or beneficiaries.
- The trust's Charity Commission contact address is at Midlands Arts Centre, but the register also states that the trust does not own or lease land or property. It should therefore not be treated as evidence that MAC is a trust-owned operational site; it is more securely evidenced as the venue through which the trust supports commissioned and exhibited work.
Additional evidence needed
- A current grants or project list naming recipients, commissioned works, delivery venues and dates.
- Trustee annual reports or accounts with narrative descriptions of the 2024/25 and 2025/26 expenditure.
- Confirmation from MAC or the trust of whether the trust funds activity beyond exhibitions and residencies at MAC, including any off-site or neighbourhood-based work.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Makes Grants To Individuals
- Makes Grants To Organisations
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A commissioning vehicle linked to a larger arts institution
The Trust appears to function as a dedicated mechanism for advancing MAC’s charitable mission through new artistic work, especially work made for performance, display or residency.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the Trust from a general arts funder: its strategic value may lie in enabling experimentation and commissioning that is connected to a particular cultural institution and its public programme.
Show evidence
“The Trust supports the charitable objects of the MAC through commissioning, purchasing or acquiring new works of art for performance or public display.”
Source:Charity Commission“The Trust supports commissioning or sponsorship of new work created in residencies at the MAC.”
Source:Charity Commission
New work is treated as public learning, not only artistic production
The available evidence suggests the Trust connects commissioning and acquisition with public education and appreciation of the arts, rather than treating new work as an end in itself.
Why it matters
This may indicate that the Trust’s contribution should be understood through the public encounter with art—exhibitions, performances and participation—not solely through the artists or works it funds.
Show evidence
“The Trust promotes, improves, develops and maintains public education in and appreciation of the arts.”
Source:Charity Commission“The Trust arranges activities and exhibitions in all aspects of the arts including crafts and media.”
Source:Organisation
Potentially an intermediary between artists, organisations and MAC
Because it can make grants to both individuals and organisations while also supporting commissions and residencies, the Trust may have a connective role across multiple parts of the arts ecosystem.
Why it matters
This raises a useful question about whether the Trust creates opportunities beyond MAC’s internal programme, potentially linking artists, partner organisations and public audiences.
Show evidence
“The charity makes grants to individuals and makes grants to organisations.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity helps the general public.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether the Trust funds work independently of MAC or principally channels support into MAC-led activity.
- Who receives grants, how decisions are made and whether grants prioritise particular art forms or communities.
- The scale, frequency and public reach of commissions, acquisitions, exhibitions and residencies.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent grant and commission records, including recipients, amounts, purposes and locations.
- Annual reports or accounts showing income sources, expenditure and the Trust’s operational relationship with MAC.
- Information on residency participants, audience reach and how commissioned work is publicly presented.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The New Work Trust promotes, improves, develops and maintains public education in and appreciation of the arts; arranges activities and exhibitions in all aspects of the arts including crafts and media; and supports the charitable objects of the Midlands Arts Centre through commissioning new works of art of all kinds for performance or public display.
Charity objects
(1) TO PROMOTE, IMPROVE, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS (2) TO ARRANGE ACTIVITIES AND EXHIBITIONS IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE ARTS INCLUDING CRAFTS AND MEDIA (3) TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE OBJECTS OF THE MAC THROUGH (1) THE COMMISSIONING, PURCHASE OR OTHER ACQUISITIONS OF NEW WORKS OF ART OF ALL KINDS FOR PERFORMANCE OR PUBLIC DISPLAY (2) COMMISSIONING OR SPONSORSHIP OF NEW WORK TO BE CREATED IN RESIDENCIES AT THE MAC