MPs slam ACE’s ‘shameful’ funding decisions

Government should step in and take action over ACE's investment plans for 2023-26 which have led to high-profile organisations being dropped from the National Portfolio, MPs have said.

During a debate in parliament on support for artists and culture, MPs from both the Conservative and Labour parties united in criticism of the implications of ACE's National Portfolio for 2023-26, worth £446m a year, which will lead to increased funding outside London.

Veteran Conservative MP Bob Neill said ACE had "gone rogue" and was "seriously wrong" in its decision to stop funding English National Opera (ENO). Labour MP Harriet Harman said the way the ENO was dealt with, with no consultation conducted on a suggested move outside of London, was "shameful".

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As part of the funding decisions announced by ACE on 4 November, arts organisations including ENO, Donmar Warehouse, Oldham Coliseum, Hampstead Theatre, The Watermill, The Gate and Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme have been removed from the portfolio entirely.

The debate, held yesterday (22 November), coincided with protests by artists and performers against ACE's investment plans outside the offices of the Department for Digitial, Culture, Media & Sport, calling for a reinstatment of funding.

Strategic review

Speaking in parliament, Bob Neill, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Opera, said: "Make no mistake: what the Arts Council is proposing is not the relocation of English National Opera, but the killing of English National Opera.

"It is, effectively, closure. It has acted in a peremptory manner, with no consultation and a most questionable evidence base.

"It is all very well to say that the Arts Council operates at arm’s length – yes, but when it goes rogue and gets something seriously wrong, the Minister is entitled to use his influence, as best he can, to make it change its mind."

"Let us have a proper strategic review of opera provision. Let us ensure that the ENO receives a realistic level of funding over the next four years or so, to keep the company in being, because if it folds it will be lost forever.

"The ENO is more than willing to look at doing more work outside of London. That ought to be part of the discussion, but it cannot do it on this basis. We ought to be looking at this on the basis that it keeps a London base."

Labour MP Kevin Brennan, a member of the DCMS Select Committee, said: "To announce, as Arts Council England did, savage and sudden cuts to some of our great cultural organisations is no way to do business."

'Groundbreaking work'

The decision was also questioned by former Culture Minister, Conservative MP Caroline Dinenage. She said ENO has been "groundbreaking" in the way it has appealed to younger audiences and reached out in partnerships.

"It has done TikTok videos seen by hundreds of thousands of people," she said.

"It has even done beatboxing in a car park. It has done virtually more than anybody to bring opera, which is often regarded as a bit of an elitist art form, to the masses and to a newer, younger audience.

"It will be a disaster if such organisations – not just the ENO – lose that unique identifying factor in the move. I have nothing against driving investment outside London, but we have to do that in a careful way and not as some form of crazy tokenism. I therefore ask the Minister to look again at giving the ENO more time and more resources to deliver the appropriate change and to continue its excellent work."

Harriet Harman, former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and former Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, said the way ENO had been treated was "shameful".

"We must not allow public policy to drive the cultural impoverishment of this country, but unless the government steps in to stop that or the Arts Council can be persuaded to think again, that is exactly what is going to happen with the closure of the English National Opera at the Coliseum.

"The Arts Council spin was that the ENO was to be relocated as part of levelling up.

"The briefing was that the ENO was going to Manchester. Not only was that a bolt out of the blue to the ENO, but it was the first time Manchester had heard of it, and it was not what they wanted. The Arts Council is closing the ENO with a tremendous cultural loss and nothing to show for it up north.

"What the Arts Council proposes to do is completely wrong. But the way it has gone about it – with no consultation and, frankly, misleading spin – is shameful. It should think again. Yes, times have changed and times are hard, but difficult decisions should be made carefully, not with a wrecking ball."

ACE Chief Executive Darren Henley last week indicated he has no intention of amending the settlement, despite widespread concern over the implications.

Appearing before a House of Lords select committee, Henley said the decision to remove funding from organisations previously in the National Portfolio for 2018-22 does not represent "a cut", and that future funding possibilities remain open.

"So your main message to them is that you are hearing what they are saying, but your decision has been made and the funding has now been allocated?" Baroness Stowell asked Henley following a series of questions on the issue.

"That's absolutely correct, yes," Henley replied.

Arts Professional has contacted DCMS for comment.