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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the level of Arts Council England funding to the English National Opera on the availability of (a) free tickets to young adults and (b) opportunities for young singers and actors.

Decisions about arts funding are subject to the arm’s-length principle and are made by Arts Council England. In December 2023, Arts Council England and English National Opera agreed £24m funding for 2024-2026. This will enable ENO to continue to deliver a substantial opera season every year in London, whilst co-developing significant performance and learning activity in Greater Manchester as it works towards establishing a new main base by 2029.  This brings ACE’s investment in the ENO to over £35m.

The ENO provides invaluable opportunities for young people, including their free tickets for under 21s scheme. We are pleased to see that this initiative, amongst others, remains a key part of the ENO’s impact.