ACE refuses to publish ‘sensitive’ ENO letters

Arts Council England (ACE) has said it will not publish letters between its Chief Executive and English National Opera (ENO) discussing the potential for it to move outside of London due to their "sensitive nature".

As part of the funding decisions announced by ACE last month, ENO was one of a number of arts organisations to be removed from the National Portfolio, with ACE suggesting it could potentially move to Manchester and offering it £17m over three years to relocate.

Responding to a freedom of information request asking ACE to publish any communication it had with ENO about the idea since 2020, ACE said most discussions had taken place over the phone or in person. 

But it added that it has identified two letters – one dated 8 November 2022 from Chief Executive Darren Henley to ENO, and a letter dated 11 November 2022 from ENO to Henley.

However, ACE refused the request to publish them due to the "commercially sensitive content, references to NPO applications and ongoing conversations with ENO relating to the matters discussed".

It said that while disclosing the information requested "would enhance transparency and accountability", it is "not in the public interest for the commercial viability of applicants to be jeopardised unnecessarily, or for their commercial interests to be disproportionately prejudiced".

The response to the request was published on website whatdotheyknow.com.

Last week Henley defended ACE's funding decisions during questioning by members of the DCMS Select Committee, saying he believes ENO can continue to perform at its London home, the Coliseum, if it establishes a base elsewhere in the country.