We are delighted that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has recognised the value of culture, following the collective case made by the ABO, alongside theatres, museums and galleries. Sustaining the higher rate of relief permanently at 45%, following the temporary doubling of the rate of Orchestra Tax Relief in 2021, will help to counter the wider challenges facing arts and culture across the country.

Today’s announcement is excellent news for British orchestras. The higher rate of relief enables our sector to remain ambitious, building new audiences, creating positive social impact for local communities, supporting new productions, generating employment and developing future talent, in the face of continued economic pressures.

Judith Webster, Chief Executive, ABO, said: “Orchestra Tax Relief set at 45% permanently allows British orchestras to plan for the future with confidence, presenting major and innovative programming, including commissioning new works; further developing vital programmes that support health and wellbeing in local communities; supporting the future of the sector through music education; and planning international tours, enhancing the UK's cultural influence worldwide.”

Today’s announcement will enable projects that would not otherwise be possible without Orchestra Tax Relief, including Manchester Camerata’s weekly ‘Music Cafe’, bringing joy and connection through music for people living with dementia; Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra livestreaming schools’ concerts to 20,000 young people across UK and commissioning new work to showcase the orchestra’s ground-breaking disabled led ensemble BSO Resound; and Royal Scottish National Orchestra delivering their matinee concerts, popular with older audiences and regional and rural concerts and community events.

David Burke, Chief Executive, London Philharmonic Orchestra, said: “We are delighted with the Chancellor’s announcement which enables us to plan with greater certainty and enable projects that would not otherwise be possible without Orchestral Tax Relief. These include 20 regional performances across the whole of the UK; greater ambition and collaboration in our London season; and taking the best of British music making around the world with tours to the US, Japan and Europe, to name but a few.”

Abigail Pogson, Managing Director, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, said: “Orchestras in the North are a vital part of our cultural fabric, supporting creative education, bringing well-being and joy to many, and attracting visitors and investment to our regions. Today’s announcement is welcome news, and not just for orchestras. This decision will support the wider creative economy which is one of our country’s most valuable assets. Royal Northern Sinfonia is a chamber orchestra proudly rooted in the North East. Our flexibility means we’re at home in schools, community halls, bigger regional centres like Carlisle, Kendal, Middlesbrough and Sunderland, and at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, our home.”

Sophie Lewis, Chief Executive, National Childrens Orchestras (NCO) and Chair of the ABO, said: “Today’s announcement means that NCO is able to continue to deliver its newly devised projects and partnership engagement programmes as well as plans for increased activities, reaching up to 1000 more children and young people every year and creating lasting impact that supports their musical learning and wellbeing.”

We also welcome the regional investment committed to the West Midlands to support cultural and heritage projects and Levelling Up funding, supporting cultural projects in local communities, in the face of cuts to local authority funding for culture across the country.

As we seek creative solutions to the sector’s future growth and resilience, the continuity of this vital support is a welcome boost for the UK’s celebrated orchestras.