Since 2002 Brighton Early Music Festival has been bringing exciting and innovative programmes to Brighton, based around the music that would have been familiar to people between the 11th and early 19th centuries. Our programming seeks to bring this world to life, recognising the fact that 'early' music wasn't written for the concert hall, but performed and enjoyed in churches, palaces, salons, pubs, the open air, and in people's living rooms.

Our events are popular - enjoyed by between 4000 and 6000 people who attend our Festival each year in October and November. So you may well ask, why do we need additional support?

Putting on large scale classical events, often involving staging and lighting, as well as the fees and travel for the professional musicians involved, is an expensive business, and the venues that we use have small capacities. Even if an event is sold out, the ticket income usually only covers around 30% of the costs. It's really important to us to keep ticket prices affordable, as well as to take music into the community through our work with schools and community groups.

With no guaranteed year on year funding, we have to start from scratch each year, applying for funding from national bodies like the Arts Council, as well as approaching grant-making trusts, companies and individuals. In the current uncertain climate, funding is getting harder to secure, and our links with artists and organisations around Europe are getting harder to maintain.

Maybe you know the Festival already and enjoy our programme of events? Maybe you've just come across us but like the sound of what we do (to find out more, check out the video below from last year's opera production)?

If you would like to see BREMF continue, you can support us in the following ways:

By joining or upgrading as a Friend of the Festival at www.bremf.org.uk/friend

By making a donation via this appeal page

By getting in touch via www.bremf.org.uk to discuss other ways to support such as via a company or trust

We are very grateful for ANY amount, but the list below gives an example of where we can use your support:

£20 pays for travel for a student performer

£50 covers microphone hire for an event involving speech

£125 pays for printing 15,000 flyers to publicise the festival

£250 covers harpsichord hire and tuning for one event

£500 pays for venue hire for one of our larger events