EXCLUSIVE: Opera North confirms ‘organisational review’ amid reports of redundancies

Opera North is conducting an “organisational review” across several departments to create a “leaner, more agile structure”, Arts Professional can reveal.

According to sources close to the organisation at least six people have already lost their jobs. However, Opera North has refused to confirm whether redundancies have been made or if more are in the pipeline.

The Leeds-based organisation said it hopes the review will “refocus the company on its core purpose and strengths” allowing it to “reignite growth”.

A spokesperson said, “These changes will strengthen the company to be ready for the challenges of the future.

“Throughout this challenging period, the company will continue to focus its efforts on reaching communities across the North of England and bringing music and the arts into the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds.

“This is an ongoing process during which we are looking at every department. At this stage, it would not be fair on individuals to comment in more detail.”

New of an organisational review comes less than six months after Opera North told Slippedisc it was restructuring its leadership team.

A struggling sector?

Fears of job cuts at the Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation have emerged less than a week after the funder said it would consider using existing grant schemes to channel more money into developing new opera works as part of efforts to support the sector.

ACE made the comments in reaction to a report it commissioned into the state of the opera sector, which was published.

It said that given the government’s position on public spending, the arts and culture sector should not assume increases to the funding it distributes over the next two to three years.

Other opera companies, including the Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, and Glyndebourne, have recently had to make operational changes, such as job losses or reduced touring, after receiving lower core funding from ACE.

Opera North receives £10.7m each year from ACE as part of the 2023-26 National Portfolio, a slight increase on 2018-22 when it was awarded £10.4m.

Responding to the opera report, ACE said: “It’s important to acknowledge that this ongoing work around opera and music theatre is taking place in the context of recent reductions in the Arts Council’s own funding for some companies, unprecedented levels of demand across our budgets, and extreme pressure on the sector’s business models.

“This context will inevitably shape the speed and the scale of positive change that is possible – but we are confident; nevertheless, that change can and will happen.

“Our confidence is driven by the fact that, in our recent conversations with sector leaders, there is a notable appetite to explore new approaches.”