Philanthropic engagement
By making a philanthropic gift to the Royal Ballet and Opera you will be providing vital support for our work, helping us to secure the future of ballet, opera, dance and music.
The Royal Ballet and Opera relies on many individuals, companies, 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 Ballet and Opera 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 Ballet and Opera 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 Ballet and Opera 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 Ballet and Opera philanthropists.
The Royal Ballet and Opera 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 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
Aria Circle
Established in the 2024/25 Season, the Aria Circle invites those with a passion for opera to deepen their engagement with The Royal Opera while playing a vital role in its future. In the 2025/26 Season, the Aria Circle’s generosity will be acknowledged towards The Royal Opera’s first-ever production of Leoš Janáček’s The Makropulos Case, directed by Katie Mitchell and conducted by Music Director Jakub Hrŭša.
Supporters of the Aria Circle will gain a glimpse behind the scenes of life at the Royal Ballet and Opera, with access to a varied programme of events, including in conversation evenings with artists and creatives, rehearsal access and celebrations around performances.
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For more information or to join the Aria Circle, please contact Benjamin Cunningham at benjamin.cunningham@roh.org.uk or call +44(0)20 7212 9467.
At Home Circle
The At Home Circle offers philanthropists the opportunity to host and meet artists at a series 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 Ballet and Opera and expand their knowledge of our art forms by hearing from the artists who grace our stages.
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For more information please contact Callum Shaw at callum.shaw@roh.org.uk or call +44(0)20 7212 9398
Fonteyn Circle
Named after Prima Ballerina Assoluta, Margot Fonteyn, this philanthropic initiative brings together a community of ballet lovers who are at the heart of supporting The Royal Ballet. In the 2025/26 Season, the Fonteyn Circle’s generosity will be acknowledged towards The Royal Ballet’s performances of Giselle.
Supporters will enjoy exclusive engagement that illuminates the extraordinary world of The Royal Ballet on stage and behind-the-scenes. This includes invitations to private stage rehearsals, intimate in conversation evenings, opportunities to meet and speak with members of the Company and celebrations around performances.
Those who wish to have a deepened engagement may wish to consider becoming Fonteyn Circle Principal Supporters, with part of their donation supporting Royal Ballet Healthcare. Each year we must invest over £1 million in Ballet Healthcare to support our world-class dancers. By ensuring continued investment we can provide new Healthcare technology, advanced equipment, in-house expertise and the study and application of industry-defining research. Increased generosity helps fund this state-of-the-art facility which nurtures stronger, healthier and more resilient dancers.
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For more information or to join the Fonteyn Circle, please contact Olivia Cheung at olivia.cheung@roh.org.uk or call +44(0)20 7212 9468.
Maestro Circle
The Maestro Circle seeks to bring supporters closer to the work of Music Director of The Royal Opera Jakub Hrůša, Principal Guest Conductor Speranza Scappucci and other Maestri at the Royal Ballet and Opera. Supporters of the Maestro Circle will receive access to a varied programme of events; including in conversation evenings with the Maestri and other creatives, exclusive rehearsal access, and other events specially curated to connect supporters to the work of these world-leading proponents of their art. In the 2025/26 Season, the Maestro Circle’s generosity will be acknowledged towards The Royal Opera’s first-ever production of Leoš Janáček’s The Makropulos Case, directed by Katie Mitchell and conducted by Jakub Hrŭša.
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For more information or to join the Maestro's Circle, please contact Benjamin Cunningham at benjamin.cunningham@roh.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7212 9467.
Wagner Circle
The Wagner Circle is a philanthropic initiative that brings together those with a passion for the works of Richard Wagner. With exclusive insights into The Royal Opera’s work, involvement in the Circle serves to deepen knowledge and enjoyment of one of the most significant figures in opera, through a series of special events. In the 2025/26 Season, the Wagner Circle’s generosity will be acknowledged towards the production of Siegfried.
Supporters will be offered a unique programme of involvement, including access to private working rehearsals, conversations with artists and experts, and an evening around a performance of the new production of Siegfried.
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For more information or to join the Wagner Circle, please contact David Bean at david.bean@roh.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7212 9175.
Young Philanthropists
Join the Young Philanthropists
The Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) Young Philanthropists brings together a community of young (up to 40 years old) opera and ballet lovers in support of exceptional music and dance. Supporters will enjoy a series of special events designed to enhance their understanding of these art forms, bringing them closer to the artistic companies and creativity taking place at the Royal Opera House. In the 2025/26 Season, the RBO Young Philanthropists’ generosity will be acknowledged towards The Royal Ballet’s performances of Mayerling.
We offer the Young Philanthropists a programme of engagement opportunities including private stage rehearsals, conversations with artists and experts, and invitations to supporters’ evenings around performances.
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For more information or to join the Young Philanthropists, please contact David Bean at david.bean@roh.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7212 9175.
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 supporters 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.
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 2025/26 Season we will be running Syndicates for the productions listed below:
The Britten Production Syndicate
Benjamin Cunningham
benjamin.cunningham@roh.org.uk | +44 (0)20 7212 9467
La Fille mal gardée Production Syndicate
Callum Shaw
callum.shaw@roh.org.uk | +44 (0)20 72129398
The Ring Cycle - Siegfried
David Bean
david.bean@roh.org.uk | +44 (0)20 72129175
Support a Project
Learning and Participation
Engaging in the arts teaches us to communicate, empathise, and think critically, thereby enriching all facets of education. However, many young people in UK schools are deprived of an artistic education. We aspire for every child to reach their full potential through the transformative power of the arts, which is why we have introduced our pioneering programme, RBO Schools.
As a supporter of the Learning and Participation Syndicate, you can make a real and sustained difference to diverse communities across the country. We look forward to bringing you closer to our Learning and Participation projects, to showcase the impact that your gift will make in the lives of these young people.
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For more information please contact Callum Shaw at callum.shaw@roh.org.uk or call +44
(0)20 7212 9398.
Royal Ballet and Opera International Council
Join the International Council
The International Council is a circle of passionate Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) supporters from around the world, who share a deep connection with our artistic companies and the works we perform at the Royal Opera House and on international stages. The support of members of the International Council ensures that our performances continue to inspire new generations and reach across borders. Philanthropists from around and beyond the UK are invited to become part of this global family and help sustain the future growth and success of the Royal Ballet and Opera.
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For more information please contact Alice MacInnes at alice.macinnes@roh.org.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7212 9262.
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 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 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.
Environment and Sustainability
It is the ambition of the Royal Ballet and Opera 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 Ballet and Opera 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.
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We welcome philanthropic support for this area of our work. For more information please contact Jessica Rigby at jessica.rigby@roh.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7212 9587.
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)