Arts Council criticised for prioritising opera in music funding

UK Music has launched a scathing attack on Arts Council England (ACE), branding it “too posh for pop” for apparently prioritising opera and classical styles of music through a key funding stream.

The umbrella body, which represents the interests of the UK’s commercial music industry, claims only 8% of the current national portfolio funding allocation for music goes to organisations focused on popular music, which stands in “stark comparison” to the 62% distributed to opera.

“Opera is a key part of our vibrant and diverse cultural scene in the UK and many of our members are classical musicians,” said Michael Dugher, CEO of UK Music. “But the current way taxpayers’ money is allocated is manifestly unjust and should be urgently reviewed to ensure all types of music are treated fairly.”

The comments sparked fierce debate about the distribution of funding and the role of advocacy bodies, with some commentators criticising UK Music for pitting musical genres against each other and others saying the arguments open an important debate about support for other forms of music.

Funding allocation

UK Music analysed ACE’s national portfolio spending for 2018-22, classifying music recipients by genre including classical, opera, popular music, multi-genre, jazz and folk.

It found opera organisations will receive £57.2m of the overall £92m music budget in 2018/19, equivalent to 62% of funding. Four opera organisations alone – the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Opera North and Welsh National Opera – will receive a collective £52.9m this year. Classical music organisations will receive £21.3m (23%).

By comparison, the research notes popular music organisations will receive £7.2m in 2018/19 – or 8% of the music budget – and other genres, including folk, will receive as little as 0.6% (£527k).

Dugher continued: “It is indefensible that pop music gets just £1 for every £8 of taxpayers’ cash that is awarded by the Arts Council to opera under its National Portfolio. The Arts Council risks giving the impression that it is elitist and too posh for pop.

“Public funds should be used to broaden the appeal of the arts, particularly among the young, and make every aspect of our fantastic culture more inclusive.”

Limited analysis

But the analysis has been criticised as limited in scope for focusing solely on one funding stream and only assessing funding outcomes.

Writing in AP, Mark Pemberton, Director of the Association of British Orchestras, stressed operating models across the genres were different. “Opera is expensive,” he wrote. “With big casts, a full orchestra and chorus, as well as behind-the-scenes staff, each production costs way more than it could ever recoup through the box office, especially when tickets can cost as little as a fiver.”

“It is this structural deficit that creates the need for Arts Council funding, to complement what an opera company can raise from tickets sales and donors.”

He also questioned why UK Music would seemingly pit some genres of music against each other at a time when public funding for music is “so under threat”, and considering UK Music’s members represent musicians, composers and publishers who work in opera.

“How much of the profits from the UK’s thriving music business get re-invested in opera and classical music? It’s peanuts,” he added.” “Let’s talk about re-balancing that investment, alongside discussing the fairness of Arts Council England priorities.”

Wider discussion

Reacting to the news, the Music Venue Trust (MVT), which supports grassroots music venues (GMVs), stressed it does not wish to demean other artforms but instead seek “cultural parity” for smaller venues which are “vital cultural hubs”.

Political discourse across the UK has acknowledged the high closure rate of such venues and taken steps to tackle the onerous costs of complying with noise regulations that often fall on them.

“In the run up to the National Portfolio Organisation distribution round of 2017, MVT undertook three years of positive conversations with ACE,” wrote Mark Davyd, CEO, and Beverley Whitrick, Strategic Director of MVT. “The outcome was zero new money for GMVs.”

“Every argument for funding for opera or classical music applies with equal force to GMVs. Put simply, the economic model is not sustainable from ticket revenues. But the cultural activity that happens in these venues is vital to communities and the future success of British music. No GMVs; no Adele, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy or Coldplay.”

They continued: “We don’t believe this is a debate about classical versus ‘pop’. It’s not a debate about which music is commercial…

“Important cultural spaces are closing right now. That should concern anyone who cares about the cultural fabric of the UK, and we should all be demanding that ACE stop it.”

Is ACE too posh for pop? Read the views of music leaders.