Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will take steps to ensure no jobs are lost at the English National Opera following changes to the funding it receives from Arts Council England.

Arts Council England (ACE) has set a provisional budget of up to £24 million investment to support the English National Opera (ENO), subject to successful application, for 2024-2026. This is in addition to the £11.46 million of funding already awarded to the ENO for April 2023 to March 2024 while it develops its future plans.

ENO received £12.3 million per year in the 2018-22 National Portfolio Investment Programme. Even though it will not be part of the new 2023-26 Investment Programme, ACE has set a provisional budget of up to £12 million per year for 2024/25 and 2025/26 to support the ENO make a phased transition to a new artistic and business model.

The Department is pleased that the Arts Council England and English National Opera are working together on possibilities for the future of the organisation.