Welsh National Opera Opposes Arts Council England’s 35% Cut to Funding

In an open letter, the opera company’s current and former members say the move will “sharply reduce” performances across England and Wales

Arts Council England (ACE), a national development agency providing funding for the arts, recently announced a 35% cut to funding for the Welsh National Opera (WNO).

This budget reduction has been contested by the opera company in an open letter undersigned by 19 people, including former WNO artists, artistic directors, managers, and board members, stating that ACE’s move is detrimental.

Over many decades, WNO’s funding has been shared between the two Arts Councils of Wales and England. This “invaluable cross-border bargain” has allowed WNO to perform for audiences in both regions until the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“ACE’s plan to reduce WNO’s funding by 35 percent will not only sharply reduce WNO’s opera provision in England outside London, but will also threaten WNO’s service to Wales, at the very moment that Arts Council Wales (ACW) is undertaking its own strategic review,” the open letter reads. “This is the reverse of leveling up.”

In 2022, WNO saw its annual income from ACE reduced to £6.24 million to £4 million a year for 2023-26. To support WNO’s lesser income for this period, ACE is providing the company £3.25 million of its £9 million Transform program, according to Arts Professional.

“The structure of [WNO’s] orchestra is a matter for their leadership team and board, however we are pleased to be investing £15.3 million in [WNO] over the next three years, and look forward to them continuing to tour inspiring opera performances,” said an ACE spokesperson, as reported by The Stage. 

“Alongside our investment they will also be receiving £4.5 million a year from [ACW],” the spokesperson added. “[ACE] is committed to supporting opera, with more opera organizations receiving funding than before, and up to £130 million being invested in the art form over the next three years, enabling emerging operatic talent to bloom and to thrive, and people in more places across the country to enjoy this great art form.”

In response to ACE offering WNO “transition funding,” the letter states the proposal will significantly reduce the number of full-time orchestra and chorus members.

The reductions would “profoundly change the nature of the company as well as its capacity to deliver the education and community work that has benefited so many young people and communities in Wales and in the English cities to which the company tours,” the letter states.

“We note that the proposed review refers only to England,” the letter continued. “We would urge ACE and ACW to work together on this review, to ensure its remit includes England and Wales, and for any reduction in WNO’s artistic core to be resisted while that review is undertaken. Arguably, this could merit an all-UK approach.

“At the same time, we would urge ACW and the Welsh Government not to compound ACE’s error by any further injury to a company that has burnished Wales’s artistic reputation across the world for three-quarters of a century.”

The letter is undersigned by Sir Richard Amstrong, Dame Hilary Boulding, Matthew Epstein, Rebecca Evans, John Fisher, Anthony Freud, Helena Gaunt, David Jackson, Gwyn Hughes Jones, Samantha Maskrey, Sir Brian McMaster, Sir David Poutney, Matthew Prichard, Tim Rhys-Evans, Menna Richards, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Lord Wigley of Caernarfon, Geraint Talfan Davies, and Llyr Williams.