We need your help!
This must be possibly one of the worst times to ask for help, however we are all too aware of the cost of living crisis and this is also having a massive impact on the arts world. In the last 3 months we have written over £185k of grant applications and all of these have been turned down. Every funder has commented on the strength of our applications, however in a cost-of-living crisis we are finding that the arts do not take priority.
We are facing a very real problem and need to raise £10k to help support our lunchtime concerts, community orchestra and core funds until we can secure further support from our regular funders in the Spring.
We are reminded daily as we run concerts, workshops in schools and our community orchestra how important Ensemble Reza is to our local community and we regularly hear how our work is having an impact on well-being. Many people, especially students continue to experience live classical music for the first time.
Last Friday I received this email from the Community Centre Development Worker in Broadfield ….
‘Thank you to Ensemble Reza for the wonderful Christmas concert this week in Broadfield. As I looked around the room, I was thrilled to see generations of people enjoying the music. It is not often that toddlers, children, and adults, through to quite elderly, gather to enjoy an intergenerational event together. The sense of appreciation across the ages of both the music and each other was heart-warming. Additionally, I could not help but reflect on the opportunity that Ensemble Reza gives people across the socio-economic spectrum to access classical music. I know that there were many in the audience who simply could not afford to pay for themselves, or their children, to listen to the brilliant talent, that was enjoyed on Tuesday.’
By the end of December, we will have performed to almost 5000 people since September, taking music to schools, churches, shopping centres, homeless shelters, community events and online. We’ve experienced sell-out concerts and our lunchtime concert series, especially in Crawley, is reaching new and diverse audiences from pre-schoolers to the retired.
As a professional arts organisation, we ensure our musicians are paid fairly in-line with the Musicians Union rates. Likewise, I am a full-time employee of Ensemble Reza, and our team includes freelancers, supporting our social media, design and administration.
As we launch our 12 Days of Christmas tomorrow, please if you can, would you consider supporting Ensemble Reza and help us to continue to change lives through music.
Donations can be made directly to our bank account (by emailing hannah.carter@ensemblereza.com or by visiting: https://www.ensemblereza.com/support-us
Thank you all, for the warm messages of support, and the donations we have received in the last few days.
With very best wishes,
Hannah and the Ensemble Reza Team.