Troubled English National Opera must improve or face losing its grant, says Arts Council

 
Martyn Rose left his post as chair of the ENO Picture: Nigel Howard

The Arts Council has fired a shot across the bows of the troubled English National Opera with a warning it must improve or face losing its grant.

In a surprise move, the company is being dropped from the list of national portfolio organisations backed by the Arts Council and put in a cultural form of special measures because of “serious concerns” over its plans.

The company, which has just lost its chairman and executive director amidst allegations of internal clashes, is understood to have expected a three-year funding settlement as an NPO.

But the Arts Council board has now ruled it cannot give unqualified support and a special funding arrangement for the next two years has been agreed instead.

Althea Efunshile, the Arts Council’s acting chief executive, said: “No one is doubting that ENO is capable of extraordinary artistic work but we have serious concerns about their governance and business model and we expect them to improve or they could face the removal of our funding.”

The Arts Council had to get best value for taxpayer’s money by “investing in well-run companies who delight audiences with brilliant work” and “with the very occasional exception, all the organisations we fund do just that,” she said.

ENO had done “a considerable amount of work” to address the challenges it faces but “a number of significant risks remain”.

It is understood a major concern is while the best of its output is award-winning, there are too many productions that do not win an audience. The Royal Opera House does not always get top reviews but is more regularly full.

Harry Brunjes, who became acting chair of ENO after his predecessor Martyn Rose stood down, said they were “very grateful” to the Arts Council for the funding deal and “for their acknowledgment of our exceptional artistic programme”.

He added: “The ENO Board will continue to work closely with Arts Council England to inspire confidence in our future plans, the management of the company and the London Coliseum.”

The company will receive £12.38 million plus transitional funding of £3.7 million this year and similar core funding with a £2.85 million grant for 2016/17.

It is recruiting a new executive director after Henriette Goetz also announced she was quitting the company. A leaked letter saw Mr Rose calling for artistic director John Berry to go.

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