In November 2022, ACE made a series of dramatic cuts as part of its plans to distribute arts funding away from the Capital. English National Opera not only had its funding removed in its entirety by the body, but also faces a possible funding shortfall of £24m from 2024 if it fails to relocate to out with London.
Chief Executive of English National Opera, Stuart Murphy, was confident that ENO could make the move away from the capital. He stressed however, "we definitely need a presence in London."
According to the BBC, Stuart Murphy had been contacted by 10 elected officials around the UK to express an interest in hosting the ENO's new headquarters. While not divulging the locations of all 10, Mr Murphy said the headquarters was likely to be outside of London - with large-scale performances still taking place at the London Coliseum.
Murphy has said that the list of three speculative bases should be confirmed by the end of the month and a winner confirmed by the end of the year. Currently being considered are; Bristol, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.
Stuart Murphy has described Manchester and Liverpool as "really strong contenders", but is not discounting the other cities at this stage.
As hosts of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 and home to the oldest surviving philharmonic orchestra, Liverpool have demonstrated their love of culture. Similarly, Manchester regularly hosts the performances of Opera North but currently lacks in a permanent opera company.
There is no question that there is a disparity in the creative opportunities available to those in the industry in London and those in the industry in the rest of the country. But taking those opportunities away from London-based creatives, "doesn't seem like the right way to do it" says Soraya Mafi, a Manchester-based opera singer.
While ENO have been compliant in trying to meet the conditions of future funding, and offering creative opportunities outside of the capital is no bad thing, the handling of the proposed move has been criticised.
In light of the North-South divide, Mafi believes prospective base, Manchester, may not be receptive to the ENO, "parachuted in from the capital".
Additionally, when the initial announcement was made, ACE was the one to introduce Manchester as a possible new base for the English National Opera - not the ENO, itself. So when a petition was signed to try and oppose the move by ACE, Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, was quick to criticise ENO.
“If they don’t want to come willingly, we don’t want them,” Burnham said, back in November.
A spokesperson for the ENO stated that the ENO was not, in fact, against a move to Manchester. The concerns from the institution came from ACE suggesting Manchester without consultation with either ENO or existing organisations in Manchester, the expectation of such a move in an unrealistic timeframe and the cut to ENO's budget even upon a move North.
"We don’t understand why ACE think that Manchester is not worthy of the same level of investment as London, having only offered the ENO less than 50% of our current funding level to move there" said the spokesperson.
"That isn’t levelling up, it is an insult to the people of Manchester, who are in no way heathens."
Additionally, the larger point remains that diverting funding away from the capital is more likely to breed resentment towards the areas receiving this diverted funding.
