The English National Opera will forced out of London and could relocate to Manchester after the organisation had its £12.5 million annual subsidy removed and been told it can receive an emergency payment to help it set up outside London.
The announcement is part of a wider overhaul to move millions of pounds of arts funding from the capital
In a statement the organisation said that
“Today’s announcement marks the start of a new chapter for the English National Opera (ENO).
For the past four years, the ENO has been reimagining what a modern opera company should look like, building new audiences and reach beyond London.
Whether increasing diversity on and off stage, in the pit and in our audiences, supporting important national institutions such as the NHS in their Covid response with ENO Breathe and increasing our presence on broadcast and digital platforms with brilliant operatic work, the ENO has repeatedly been at the forefront of innovation for the entire opera industry.
Today’s offer of investment from Arts Council of £17 million over the next three years will allow us to increase our national presence by creating a new base out of London, potentially in Manchester. We plan to continue to manage the London Coliseum, using it to present a range of opera and dance whilst maximizing it as a commercial asset.
The ENO has vision and purpose and we aim to support the levelling up agenda by reimagining opera for future generations across England.”
