SWAN SONG: Amersham MP defends creatives impacted by opera cuts

The English National Opera (ENO) in London will no longer receive funding from The Arts Council England (ACE).

However, if they relocate to Manchester, then the ACE will provide the institution with £17 million over the next three years.

Sarah Green, MP for Amersham and Chesham is concerned over the impact this could have on creatives in the local area.

Speaking in the House of Commons, she said: “Arts Council England’s decision to stop funding the English National Opera in London, and effectively demand it relocates to Manchester, will leave hundreds of talented artists and professionals either out of work or forced to uproot their lives.

“Some of them live in my constituency and are understandably devastated by the decision they now face but they also feel blindsided, given they had very little warning.

“Can the Minister tell me whether the artists directly impacted by the removal of ENO funding were consulted in advance of the decision and if not, why not?”

Responding, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Sport, Tourism, Heritage and Civil Society, Stuart Andrew MP said:

“I know that the Arts Council have taken a considerable amount of time to look at the unprecedented number of applications that were received, over 1,700 of them, and they have assessed them very carefully.

“They are making sure that there is £12.6 million available in transition funding for those that will be leaving.

“The time has been increased from three months to seven months so that there is support for them for up to 12 months, but we would certainly encourage the Arts Council and English National Opera to continue the dialogue that they’re having.”