Anna Fiorentini

Introduction

The Anna Fiorentini Performing Arts School is an award-winning non-profit organisation providing high-quality professional performing arts training for children and young people, regardless of their financial background. Founded in 2001 by Anna Fiorentini, the organisation has grown steadily over more than two decades.

Anna Fiorentini delivers weekly classes in drama, singing and dance through a network of children’s schools across London, alongside an adults’ programme offering after-work performing arts training. At the time of investment, in 2025, Anna Fiorentini operated seven children’s schools across five London locations, supported by a small core team and a network of freelance teachers.

The organisation’s work is rooted in the belief that access to high-quality arts training can play a transformative role in young people’s lives. Alongside developing technical and creative skills, the school places strong emphasis on confidence, communication and emotional wellbeing, creating supportive environments where children and young people can express themselves and grow.

Over time, Anna Fiorentini has built a strong reputation with families, schools and partners for the quality of its teaching and its commitment to widening access to the performing arts.

The Opportunity

Following a period of consolidation after the Covid-19 pandemic, Anna Fiorentini Performing Arts School identified an opportunity to strengthen its foundations and position the organisation for sustainable growth. It sought a £150,000 loan to support this next phase, investing in staff capacity and systems while refinancing Covid-related borrowing from the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

The investment enabled the organisation to put in place the infrastructure required to grow responsibly – expanding outreach and partnerships with schools, while enhancing internal systems to support a larger network of classes. This growth was intended to increase earned income and generate consistent surpluses that could be reinvested into bursaries and scholarships for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“The Anna Fiorentini Performing Arts School is an organisation with a clear social mission and an impressive track record of delivery. This investment was about backing that track record at a pivotal moment of transition – supporting the organisation to professionalise its infrastructure and position itself for sustainable growth, while staying true to its commitment to widening access. We were delighted to support Anna to develop the school and become part of its journey.” – Matt Jenkins, Investment Manager, Figurative.

The Process

The investment due diligence process focused on the school’s core delivery model and its plans for sustainable growth, including the financial performance of its network of children’s drama schools (the Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School), its approach to widening access, and the organisational capacity required to support expansion.

A key area of focus was the underlying economics of individual schools, including enrolment levels, cost structures and the point at which schools move towards financial sustainability. This analysis helped build confidence in Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School’s understanding of the drivers of performance across its network, as well as its ability to address underperformance and improve participation where needed.

Given the competitive nature of the performing arts education market, Figurative also explored the organisation’s growth strategy in detail, testing assumptions around demand, pricing and competition. Particular attention was paid to the proposed investment in staffing and systems and how this would strengthen operational resilience, improve oversight across multiple sites and support future growth without compromising the quality or inclusivity of provision.

Alongside financial analysis, the due diligence considered governance, financial management and leadership capacity, providing confidence that the organisation was well positioned to deliver growth in a controlled and sustainable way. This confidence was reinforced by Anna Fiorentini’s long-standing commitment to the organisation, her clear understanding of its operating model and her drive to widen access to high-quality performing arts training.

The Impact

The team at Figurative was impressed by the work delivered by the Anna Fiorentini Theatre and Film School to widen access to high-quality performing arts training for children and young people across London. The assessment focused on the organisation’s main school programme for children aged four to eighteen, as it represents the organisation’s well-established and consistent engagement with emerging performing artists.

Alongside its paid-for classes, it provides scholarships and bursaries to support children who would otherwise be unable to attend. These include fully funded places and partial fee reductions, awarded through open application and partnerships with schools, helping ensure that financial background is not a barrier to participation. Through this approach, the school supports young people to build confidence, self-expression and creative skills, while developing transferable skills such as communication and teamwork.

“Figurative’s investment has had a significant and positive impact on our organisation. It enabled us to strengthen our staffing, improve our systems and put in place the operational foundations needed for sustainable growth. As a result, we are now better equipped to expand our reach, increase participation and reinvest more into bursaries for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

I particularly appreciated Figurative’s thoughtful and rigorous approach. They took the time to understand our model, our challenges and our mission, and their support has helped us move into our next phase with confidence.” – Anna Fiorentini, Founder & Principal.