Agenda item

English National Opera

·       Verbal update

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Dr Harry Brunjes, Chair of the English National Opera (ENO), and invited Cllr Peter Golds, to introduce the item.

 

Harry introduced himself and provided a verbal update to the Board, setting out the following points:

 

  • The History of ENO.
  • ENO’s current model which consisted of eight months of opera, ten main stage productions, and then in the summer months, a commercial musical.
  • ENO Engage:

-        ENO Engage existed to open up new possibilities for opera in people’s lives, working with health trusts, schools, community organisations and partners across the country to deliver projects and activities that support wellbeing, learning and skills development through opera.

  • There are three Strategic Areas to our work:

-        Access & Participation - Creating unexpected encounters with opera; breaking down barriers and shifting perceptions.

-        Learning & Skills - Nurturing and developing creative skills and talents; transforming the way in which individuals learn through and with opera.

-        Health & Wellbeing - Supporting the wellbeing of people and communities through ambitious collaborations between opera, health and social care.

  • Headline projects:

-        ‘ENO Breathe’ wasan award-winning breathing and wellbeing programme developed specifically for people recovering from COVID-19, who were still suffering from breathlessness and associated anxiety.

-        ‘Finish This’uses specially commissioned operatic works as a creative starting point to inspire students to create and produce their own music through an invitation to respond to, and resolve, unfinished artistic work. A pilot of the programme had been undertaken in Primary and Secondary schools in 2021, and applications were currently open for schools across the country to sign up in 2022. ENO were also running a pilot of the programme in SEND Schools, which began in January 2022.

-        ‘Sky Arts Access All Arts Week’ was a partnership project between ENO, Sky Arts and other leading artists and arts organisations on nationwide arts week for primary schools between 6-10 June 2022, to help bring the arts to every child in every primary school across the UK and Ireland, celebrating the arts and highlighting the importance of supporting the health and wellbeing of young people.

-        ‘Relaxed performances’ were ideal for individuals who benefited from a more relaxed environment, including anyone with dementia, learning disabilities, Tourette’s, an autistic spectrum condition, other neurological conditions, sensory disorders, anxiety, bladder and bowel conditions, and those with young children or babies. ENO had run relaxed performances since 2019 and continued to build on this work each season.

-        ‘Community and School Membership programmes’ had been launched in May 2022. The programmes were open to all state Secondary Schools and all adult community groups and organisations across the country, the membership schemes offered a range of exclusive benefits - including free tickets, pre-show talks, tours and workshops.

-        ‘Youth Casting’ supported the casting of children and young people in ENO productions, which allowed a meaningful and exciting possibility for schools. ENO Engage ran extensive school workshops and wrap-around activity for schools, allowing productions to be a whole-school learning experience.

-        ‘Youth Programming’ provided industry insights for young people looking to develop a career in the arts. ENO’s backstage insights programme would return in 2022-23.

-        ‘AbracadOpera!’ was a new Sky Kids TV show, designed to introduce young viewers to opera for the first time. The comedy-musical-drama brings together the ENO's musical forces, Sky Kids talent and ENO Engage partner schools to create an exciting adventure into the world of operatic music and performance, discovered through the artform's best characters.


Board Members made a number of comments and asked questions which related to the following points:

 

  • The way in which local authorities could work more closely with ENO to allow communities access to performances.
  • Cheaper tickets for individuals under the age of 21.
  • Skills for the sector.
  • ENO’s costume-base in Camden.
  • Outreach to children who did not attend school.
  • The interplay between ENO and smaller organisations around the country and the work that local authorities could undertake to promote ENO and the associated programmes.

 

Harry responded to Board Members’ comments, setting out the following points:

 

  • Post-pandemic, ENO were working to re-establish links around the country, particularly in Liverpool, Leeds, Luton, and Newcastle.
  • Due to the high cost of main stage opera, ENO would soon develop bespoke productions for young people.
  • The costume-base building in Camden was not currently fit for purpose, ENO were looking at several sites for long-term use.
  • All Members were encouraged to contact Dr Brunjes directly via e-mail with ideas, case studies and inspiration.

 

Decision:

 

·       Board Members noted the update.

 

Action:

 

·       Officers to circulate Dr Brunjes e-mail address to Board Members.