Wigmore Hall, the well-known classical music venue, is aimed at raising £10 million and will no longer require the Arts Council fundraising, coach John Gillurley said.
In April 2026, the London venue, celebrating its 125th anniversary, will voluntarily leave the Arts Council England (ACE) portfolio. Currently, I receive £344,206 a year.
Last year, Gilfooley launched a fund aimed at making Wigmore Hall economically independent in the “uncertain public environment of British classical music.”
The venue hoped to raise £10 million by 2027, but achieved its target early. In a statement, he said: “To provide long-term financial security, the fund allows Wigmore Hall to remain ambitious and artistically bold while still maintaining independence.”
Wigmore Hall also received a grant of £500,000 from the AKO Foundation. The venue said concert participants under the age of 35 could offer £5 tickets to continue for another five years.
They also announced the following year's season, including performances by musicians such as Rhiannon Giddens, Baritone Matthias Goerne and Simon Russell Beale.
