London Assembly urges Arts Council England to protect London’s opera offering

Making cultural events affordable and accessible for Londoners plays a vital role in the city’s economy.

The English National Opera (ENO) works to make opera affordable for Londoners. The Government has instructed Arts Council England to reduce its investment in the National Portfolio in London.

The London Assembly believes there is a need for strong funding for arts at all levels, across the UK.

Because of this, it is today calling on the Mayor to write to Arts Council England expressing concern at their plans to remove the ENO from London, and for him to call on the Secretary of State to provide the funding necessary to keep the ENO in London.

Joanne McCartney AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“Culture is what makes London great. Not only that, it supports one in six jobs in the capital and is why four out of five tourists choose to visit the capital. That is why it is vital that the English National Opera (ENO) remains in London.

“The ENO have a proud history of making opera affordable and accessible to its audiences. We fear that the forced relocation will limit these opportunities for Londoners, and risk livelihoods – funding arts should not be a race to the bottom.

“I am pleased that the London Assembly passed this motion today calling on the Government, Arts Council England, and the Mayor to do all they can to keep the English National Opera in London.”

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly recognises the huge success of the English National Opera’s (ENO) efforts to make opera affordable and accessible to its audiences, and the importance of the company’s presence in London to the city’s cultural offering and economy.

This Assembly remains concerned about the impact to London’s economy and access to culture, following the Government’s instruction to the Arts Council England (ACE) to reduce its overall current investment in the National Portfolio in London.

This Assembly objects to Arts Council England’s insistence that the ENO must move out of London; recalling the unwarranted impact this will have on the lives and livelihoods of ENO workers, represented by Equity, BECTU and the Musicians’ Union; as well as the adverse impact this will have on London’s cultural sector and the economy.

This Assembly reiterates the need for strong funding for the arts at all levels in all parts of the UK, noting the success of Opera North, previously ENO North; but believes that public funding of opera across the country must not come at the cost of Londoners.

This Assembly calls for:

1. The Arts Council England to end its requirement for the ENO to establish a primary base out of London;

2. No job losses at the ENO, and calls on affected parties, including the Arts Council England, to hold talks directly with the affected trade unions and their members, to reach a negotiated settlement;

3. The Arts Council England to ensure that funding changes do not result in any negative impact to Londoners and that a full programme of offers and events at affordable prices remains at the ENO in London;

4. The Mayor to write to Arts Council England expressing concern at their plans to remove significant cultural institutions such as the ENO from London and calling on them to change their requirements for the ENO to have a primary base outside of London;

5. The Mayor to call on the Secretary of State for Culture to provide the funding necessary to keep ENO’s primary base in London to ensure that levelling up does not lead to a loss of cultural offerings or jobs to Londoners.