The leader of Liverpool Council and Liverpool City Region’s Metro Mayor have called for clarity over the bidding process as the area seeks to house the English National Opera (ENO).
It was confirmed earlier this year owing to budget cuts, the 92-year-old opera would be forced to relocate from London. The decision was taken in a bid to diversify culture spending outside of the capital.
In May, Stuart Murphy, chief executive of the ENO, told the Guardian Liverpool was a “very strong contender” to become the new permanent home of the opera and the city was subsequently shortlisted for the honour. Liverpool is vying against Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham and Bristol.
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Now, Cllr Liam Robinson - the new man in charge at the Cunard Building - and his Labour colleague Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram have written to arts minister Lord Parkinson to ensure the bidding process is “as fair and transparent as possible.” The two men said in their letter wherever the ENO next calls home, “it should be about choosing the place that offers the best fit for the opera to thrive with a sustainable future – and not simply the place that offers the biggest short-term financial incentives.”
It said: “Naturally, we believe that the Liverpool City Region has set out the strongest case that is viable and sustainable and will allow the company to flourish as it enters its next chapter. As a UNESCO City of Music playing home of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, and with a musical heritage unmatched by anywhere else in the UK, our city goes hand in glove with the aims of the ENO and its drive to take opera to the masses.”
The Labour politicians said despite a “strong regional interest” the 1.6m people in the Liverpool City Region were not served by an opera. They said the city region had a “track record” of doing the music sector proud, citing last month’s hosting of Eurovision which included a collaboration with the ENO.
It added: “Its relocation would create real substance and momentum to that legacy and support our vision for the region for the next twenty years – including in the development of the Liverpool Music project, a multi-million pound music, arts and cultural cluster.”
Mr Rotheram and Cllr Robinson said the bidding process so far had been “something of a confusing one,” with several interested parties taking part in discussions, including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Arts Council England (ACE) and the ENO itself. The two men said it would be useful to know who would be making the final decision on the new home.
They also sought assurances there was no substance to reports of officials pushing for Manchester and Birmingham’s bids as addendums to their ‘trailblazer’ devolution deals announced earlier this year. The letter said: “As you will be aware, the government have set up the Liverpool Strategic Futures Advisory Panel.
“As part of that work, we are both working alongside Michael Gove to identify areas of competitive advantage in the city of Liverpool. Music and our growing visitor economy certainly fit within that remit.
“We would appreciate if you were able to clear up some of the uncertainty surrounding the bidding process and give your assurances that the best bid will be successful. If the process is conducted on a truly level playing field, then we are confident that the ENO will soon be calling the Liverpool City Region home.”
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