Philanthropic engagement
By making a philanthropic gift to the Royal Opera House you will be providing vital support for our work, helping us to secure the future of ballet, opera, dance and music.
The Royal Opera House relies on many individuals, companies and trusts and foundations to make our work possible.
Philanthropy from individuals supports our community of dancers, singers, musicians, craftspeople and theatre technicians and enables our artistic companies to continue to go from strength to strength. The Royal Opera House and its artistic companies present around 500 performances every year that challenge, inspire and transport hundreds of thousands of audiences via our two world-class theatres in Covent Garden and through cinema relays across the United Kingdom and internationally. By supporting the Royal Opera House you can play an important role in ensuring we can continue to perform the ballet and opera you love.
Our Learning and Participation programme plays a vital role in enabling wider access to ballet and opera, and in building and diversifying the art forms. Recognising our global reach and leadership role within the UK arts sector, it is the ambition of the Royal Opera House to be a leader in environmental sustainability and to act as a catalyst for positive change in this field. We are committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2035. We are able to do this thanks, in part, to the great generosity of so many valued Royal Opera House philanthropists.
The Royal Opera House continues to face financial challenges, including a substantial real-terms cut in our Arts Council of England funding, inflationary pressures and geo-political instability. However, we are determined to remain at the heart of the cultural life of the nation, maintaining and expanding our reputation for excellence. We are able to do this with the generous support of many donors.
We warmly invite our philanthropists to get closer to the work and artists of The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera and deepen their knowledge of the art forms by joining us for special events throughout the Season*, featuring our artistic leadership teams and some of the brightest stars from the worlds of ballet and opera.
We also welcome the opportunity to discuss more bespoke levels of involvement.
*Events are subject to change.
Support a Circle
The Fonteyn Circle
Named after Prima Ballerina Assoluta, Margot Fonteyn, the Fonteyn Circle is a philanthropic initiative bringing together a group of ballet lovers who are at the heart of supporting The Royal Ballet.
Members of the Fonteyn Circle have access to a deepened engagement with one of the world’s greatest ballet companies through special experiences. These include private stage rehearsals, celebrations surrounding performances and opportunities to meet cast and creatives. Another rewarding aspect of being part of the circle is meeting like-minded individuals who are passionate about ballet.
The Fonteyn Circle’s generosity will be acknowledged towards Ashton Celebrated, a programme in the 2023/24 Season celebrating The Royal Ballet’s Founding Choreographer, Frederick Ashton, and his long-lasting legacy. This Season will also see the golden anniversary Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, and the Fonteyn Circle will be invited to a special event to celebrate this masterpiece.
The Maestro's Circle
The Maestro’s Circle is a unique philanthropic initiative for music lovers who would like to deepen their knowledge of the extraordinary work of the conductor and Royal Opera Music Director, Maestro Antonio Pappano.
The 2023/24 Season will be Maestro Pappano’s final year as Music Director. Supporters will be invited to a series of events in his company, including access to private rehearsals, coaching sessions with Jette Parker Artists, and evening events around a performance.
We invite philanthropic gifts to support this intimate programme of involvement as part of the circle that celebrates the work of this pre-eminent artist at Covent Garden.
The Wagner Circle
The Wagner Circle is a philanthropic initiative that brings together Wagner lovers for a series of events each Season. With exclusive insights into Wagner’s work, involvement in the Circle serves to deepen our knowledge and enjoyment of one of the most significant figures in the world of opera.
Supporters will be offered a unique programme of involvement which includes attending rehearsals of The Royal Opera’s new production of Ring Cycle, in conversations with artists, and an evening around a performance of The Flying Dutchman.
Young Philanthropists
Join the Young Philanthropists
The Young Philanthropists brings together a community of young ballet and opera lovers for a bespoke series of events designed to enhance the understanding of these art forms and share the creativity taking place in our iconic Covent Garden home. Young Philanthropists receive invitations to private stage rehearsals, topical panel discussions and the chance to meet members of the cast and creative teams.
Our Young Philanthropists programme encourages many to begin their philanthropic journey with the Royal Opera House and if you would like to know more about this initiative, we would love to talk with you. Gifts may be eligible for Gift Aid or Matched Giving by employers.
Rehearsal Series
The Rehearsal Series gives a special opportunity to witness the making of a production. The Royal Opera House is proud to invite donors to its intimate and exclusive rehearsals, which includes access to new productions and much-loved classics of both opera and ballet.
The Rehearsal Series enables supporters to gain access to the exclusive behind-the-scenes process that takes our productions from rehearsals to opening night. With a range of Stage and Piano, Stage and Orchestra, and Orchestra-alone rehearsals, this is a wonderful and rewarding way to see our artists at work.
We invite a philanthropic gift to support the Rehearsal Series and for this generosity we invite donors attend these private rehearsals and events and become a closer part of the Royal Opera House family.
At Home Series
The At Home Series offers philanthropists the opportunity to host and meet international artists in a programme of intimate discussions in the comfortable setting of private Central London homes.
In four events across the Season, supporters of this philanthropic initiative will deepen their involvement with the Royal Opera House (often referred to as their second home) and expand their knowledge of opera and ballet by hearing from singers, directors, conductors and choreographers.
Support a Production
Supporting a production is an incredible opportunity to get closer to favourite ballets and operas, whilst helping us to continue presenting world-class heritage and contemporary works. Through philanthropic giving, production supports can enjoy seeing the lifecycle of a production, from the initial conception through to curtain down. Involvement includes invitations to a specially-curated series of events, as well as bespoke opportunities to meet with artists and members of the creative teams and visit our technical departments.
Donors can also support a specific role in an opera or ballet. Role supporters enjoy a tailored programme of involvement around their chosen role, including invitations to watch studio and stage rehearsals as artists prepare for performances.
2023/24 Production Syndicates
Our Production Syndicates offer groups of like-minded supporters the opportunity to come together and be a part of their favourite production.
Syndicate Supporters are invited to attend events such as design and music insights, conversations with artists, and post-performance celebrations with members of the cast, creative and technical teams, all of whom offer a real insight into how the elements of a production come together.
In the 2023/24 Season we will be running Syndicates for the productions listed below:
Ring Cycle Go to webpage
Festival of New Choreography Go to webpage
Danses Concertantes / Different Drummer / Requiem Go to webpage
For Ring Cycle
For Festival of New Choreography
For Danses Concertantes / Different Drummer / Requiem
American Friends of Covent Garden
Join the American Friends of Covent Garden
If you are based in the USA, or are a taxpayer in the USA, you can join the American Friends of Covent Garden (AFoCG). A not-for-profit organisation that raises visibility and provides support for The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, the AFoCG brings together lovers of ballet and opera – individuals, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, foundations, and corporations from across America and around the globe – to enjoy and support the arts, cultural, educational and Learning and Participation programmes of The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera.
American Friends, Patrons and philanthropists receive a variety of benefits in acknowledgment of their support and our philanthropic initiatives, above, are also available to those supporting the AFoCG. Through grants awarded to the Royal Opera House three times a year, the AFoCG supports productions, often co-productions with opera houses or ballet companies around the world. The AFoCG also help to enable our educational, outreach and talent development programmes.
The AFoCG is a 501(c)(3) organisation, so all donations made by US taxpayers are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by the IRS.
Support an intiative
Learning and Participation
The arts have unique powers to inspire people, to make connections between people and to unlock creativity in all aspects of people’s lives. The Royal Opera House demonstrates this every night on our stages, in cinemas and via Royal Opera House Stream. We also highlight the importance of art to people’s lives in classrooms and in community groups across the country. Our Learning and Participation programme has for many years played a vital role in enabling wider access to ballet and opera, and in building and diversifying the art forms.
We welcome philanthropic support for this area of our work, whether it be through schools, young people, adults and Schools in Thurrock.
Environment and Sustainability
It is the ambition of the Royal Opera House to be a leader in environmental sustainability and to act as a catalyst for positive change in this field. Recognising our global reach and leadership role within the UK arts sector, we embrace our responsibility and obligation to reduce our impact on the environment and we aim to engage with our audiences, staff, suppliers and partners to raise awareness about sustainability issues.
The Royal Opera House is committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2035.
You can find out more about the sustainable practices we have in place to make our building, operations, productions and staffing more sustainable in our Environmental Policy.
We welcome philanthropic support for this area of our work.
Payments to Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775). VAT Registration No. 769 377565.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)