2025/26 brought its fair share of challenges, from rising costs to sector-wide funding squeezes. But thanks to our brilliant community of residents, partners, and supporters, it was also a year of steady progress, high occupancy, and national reach.
From landing Arts Council England investment in Knowsley to bringing Art After Dark back to Birkenhead and launching our first grassroots regeneration conference (FLIPIM), we have continued putting creative spaces at the heart of local high streets and neighborhoods.
Here is a quick look at what that impact actually looks like in numbers:
📊 2025/26 in Numbers
The Spaces & The Community
- 4 Creative Hubs across the Liverpool City Region hosting 264 artists, makers, and social businesses (including 85 independent businesses).
- 85% overall average occupancy across our sites (up from last year!)
- 250+ people got in touch looking for studio space this year.
- Welcomed 60 new residents, 6 new workshop members, and 4 new team members.
- Over 50% of our residents have been with us for a year or more, and 16 residents had major success stories and expanded to bigger things!
- Recruited 7 resident reps to keep our spaces community-led.
The Local Impact
- 385 local creatives supported through affordable studios, business guidance, and community projects.
- £65K of work directly passed on to our residents.
- Delivered 8 Made by Make commissions and hosted 5 paid student internships.
- Taught 130 people across 12 fully funded workshops.
- Hosted 26 open days (130 visitors) and 8 large public events with 2,000+ total attendees.
- Intergenerational reach: Our youngest beneficiary was 18, and our oldest was 81!
- Won 1 award 🏆 …and our 6 hives made 245 jars of Hamilton Honey 🐝🍯
💛 A Big Thank You
To our residents, workshop attendees, partners, funders, event-goers, and the entire Make team: thank you.
Whether you run a business out of our hubs, pop in for open days, or buy local honey, you are the reason these spaces thrive.
📖 Dive into the Full Story
The numbers only tell half the story. To read the full case studies, partnership highlights, and what we’re planning next:
Read the Full 2025/26 Annual Report Below 👇
