In a major effort to increase arts accessibility, the San Francisco Early Music Society (SFEMS)—the Festival’s parent organization—implemented a “pay-what-you-can” ticket model for its 2023–24 concert season as well as the 2024 Festival, becoming by far the largest classical arts organization in the Bay Area to adopt such an approach to ticket pricing.

“We are excited to take this major step forward in eliminating income as a barrier to enjoy world-class live performances,” said Festival Artistic Director Derek Tam.

As performing arts organizations continue to grapple with lingering revenue issues from the pandemic, as well as issues of equity in the arts, SFEMS undertook a strategic overhaul to imagine an early music community reflective of the Bay Area’s diversity.

It was clear that lack of income had become a major barrier to enjoyment of live performance, Tam said.

“We are hoping that this new model will help break the perception of the enjoyment of classical and early music as an ‘elite’ entertainment,” Tam said. “Much of this music was intended and created for broad appeal, and we’re hoping to entice people to experience early music in a welcoming and exciting environment.”

To support this bold initiative, patrons are invited to consider “paying-it-forward” by purchasing a Festival subscription.

“The Festival has long been buoyed by our loyal supporters,” Tam said. “We’re confident that many of our existing subscribers will invest in building a future where the past and the present can meet and enrich each other—where early music can be enjoyed, here and now, by anyone.”