Bectu calls for realistic strategy for the ENO as ACE announces further funding

Responding to Arts Council England’s (ACE) announcement that the English National Opera (ENO) will receive an extra grant of £24m from April 2024 to March 2026 and a longer timeframe to establish a base outside of London, Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said:

“This further funding and additional time to relocate is welcome news for the ENO, our members employed there and for its supporters more generally, and we applaud all those who were vocal about the need to reverse the damaging cuts since ACE’s funding announcement last year.

“However, given the requirement for the ENO to develop an alternate base outside of London remains, many of our members could still face future uncertainty. We will continue to do all we can to support them and will fully engage with the ENO as plans to develop this base progress. The amount granted for this transition period, whilst a huge improvement on what was suggested last year, is still notably less than ENO previously received as a National Portfolio Organisation.

“We therefore reiterate our call, made earlier this year alongside our Federation of Entertainment Union colleagues, for ACE to produce a realistic strategy for the ENO, which remains under threat.

“If the UK is to continue to be a leading cultural centre, we must safeguard nationally significant institutions and the highly skilled jobs associated with them. Bectu members and all those at the ENO have faced an incredibly challenging and anxious time in the wake of the brutal cuts. We need commitment from ACE to use this additional time to significantly and meaningfully engage with the unions and the ENO on a thorough and realistic plan for the company – one that sets it up for future success and protects the livelihood of its staff and freelancers.”