We're participating in the Arts for Impact campaign from Tuesday 17 - Tuesday 24 March (midday)
A nationwide programme with local impact
The OAE brings our community opera, The Fairy Queen: Three Wishes to regions with limited access to arts and culture, collaborating with schools, communities and local musicians to create magical experiences that can change lives.
From Tuesday 17 – Tuesday 24 March, you can double your donation to the OAE by giving through the Big Give. All donations to the campaign should be made between Tuesday 18 and Tuesday 25 March (midday) via the OAE campaign page of the Big Give’s website.
What is The Fairy Queen?
The Fairy Queen: Three Wishes is a community opera and a nationwide programme which began in 2023 and has since visited numerous regions of England which face barriers in musical education. Composer James Redwood and writer Hazel Gould’s creative magic seamlessly blends the story of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the music of Henry Purcell’s opera The Fairy Queen.
Why do we run The Fairy Queen?
We dedicate numerous hours and funds to this project to ensure that children and young people, regardless of their geographic status, have access to the power of music. In 2024/25 alone, we visited County Durham and York, engaging with 13 primary schools and a secondary school in Darlington.
"My magic moment is when everybody was singing."
Student performer, Kings Lynn Fairy Queen
What’s the Impact?
A programme which spans the country, The Fairy Queen has a local impact. Involving numerous schools and including students of different ages and backgrounds, teachers and musicians, the project breaks down barriers. The programme actively connects schools with local musical groups, for example the Durham Music Service Youth Choir and primary schools from County Durham. Collaboration and unity are at the heart of The Fairy Queen, and we use the impact music has to build community connections and bring confidence to those who participate with us. In 2024/25, over 1,000 children and young people aged 2 – 18 have participated in workshops and performances with OAE musicians and we have drawn in over 1,600 audience members from the local communities.
“My daughter has suffered with huge anxiety issues recently but took part with the Youth Choir and it was absolutely the best thing for her and her confidence… This is the first thing she has been involved in at all in over two years because of anxiety. So I personally have seen the impact as a proud parent!”
Student’s parent
From the classroom to the stage
What is the Big Give and Arts for Impact?
Founded in 2007 by Sir Alec Reed, the Big Give is a non-profit charitable website which doubles your donation when you donate through the Big Give, therefore making ‘double the difference’. To read more about the Big Give, see their website here.
Arts for Impact is a seven-day online match funding campaign supporting arts and culture charities working to achieve societal impact across the UK, run in partnership with New Philanthropy for Arts & Culture (NPAC).
