A
Action for Children's Arts (ACA)
A national membership organisation embracing all professionals working in children's arts.

(A-N) The Artists Information Company
Provides a national advisory and information service for professional visual artists through a range of tools including a magazine and website.

Akademi
Works to enhance the practice, understanding and appreciation of South Asian dance across the UK within a contemporary, artistic, social and educational context.

Artswork
Independent youth arts development agency committed to developing creative opportunities for young people aged 12-25. 

Arvon Foundation (The)
A registered charity offering a year-round programme of residential creative writing courses taught by two professional writers.

C
Creative Capital
Advice and information service for artists and arts professionals. Includes events, services, partners and resources.

Creative Partnerships
Creative Partnerships provides school children across England with the opportunity to develop creativity in learning.

D
Dance UK
Advocates and lobbies to promote the importance and needs of dance. It is a membership organisation that works to create a diverse, dynamic and healthy future for dance.

E
Early Dance Circle (EDC)
The Early Dance Circle is an umbrella organisation that promotes the enjoyment, performance and study historical dance in the UK.

Engage
Provides projects and programmes which help school children and the wider community become confident in their understanding and enjoyment of the visual arts and galleries.

EQ
A national equality and diversity agency working in the creative industries.

G
The Group for Education in Museums (GEM)
Promotes the importance of learning through museums and galleries.

I
Ixia
A think tank that works with artists, policy makers within the public and private sectors carrying out research, supporting events and delivering training.

L
London Youth Arts Network (LYAN)
A voice for youth arts outside formal education, representing organisations, young people and artists working with them.

M
Museums Association (MA)
An independent membership organisation representing museums and galleries in the UK and the people who work for them.

Music Leader
A support service for music leaders offering one to one support, guidance, training, networking opportunities, online information and resources.

N
National Association of Music Educators (NAME)
A membership organisation for those working in music education. 

National Campaign for the Arts
Membership and independent lobbying organisation representing all the arts. Online resources, news and publications.

National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA)
Main representative body for amateur theatre in the UK. For those who stage musicals, operas, plays, concerts and pantomimes in a wide variety of venues, ranging from professional theatres to village halls.

S
Shape
Disability led arts organisation working to improve access to culture for disabled people, developing opportunities for disabled artists, training for cultural institutions to be more open to disabled people, running participatory arts and development programmes.

Some Other Way Forward (SOWF)
A strategic project of the Southbank and Bankside Cultural Quarter coordinating  initiatives that put young people at the heart of the arts as visitors, creators and advocates.

Sound Connections
A development organisation working to support the interests of London's youth music training and development sector.

Southwark Arts Forum
A membership organisation which includes individual artists, arts organisations, educators, community groups, and anyone interested in the arts as participants or audience.

T
Turning Point Network
National network of regional visual arts groups made up of individual artists, independents, and organisations who share a stake in the future development of the visual arts sector.

V
Visual Arts and Galleries Association
Independent body and UK-wide professional network promoting the visual arts and representing the interests of organisations and individuals working in all aspects of their presentation and development. 

Voluntary Arts Network
Information and training to those who participate in the voluntary arts sector.

Voluntary Arts England
Seeks to promote participation in the arts and crafts by supporting the development of the voluntary arts sector.

If you are an umbrella body for arts groups and would like to be added to our list please contact the team.

Please note that this list is for information only and is not intended to endorse any particular organisation.



Many organisations choose to carry out their Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on employees using an umbrella body as a third party.

CRB umbrella bodies offer a variety of services such as checking, counter-signing and forwarding completed forms to the Criminal Records Bureau, making sure sufficient identification and personal details have been provided.

To find a CRB umbrella body please visit the Criminal Records Bureau's dedicated page.