Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Analysis

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in October 1986, 40 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02040312). It says it provides services.

In the financial year ending September 2025, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment reported income of £4.0m and spending of £4.2m, spending 106% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £1.9m to £4.0m (+115%), an average of +21% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2022, when income rose by 69%. Over the whole period it spent 105% of the income it received.

Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Grange Park Opera (£4.0m), The Grange Festival (£4.0m) and Cumbria Theatre Trust (£4.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 51% and donations and legacies 37%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1,000. Charitable activities took 89% of spending and raising funds 11%. Grants to other organisations totalled £5,000. Reserves of £801k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 18 people.