Future of Scottish Opera agreed

The Scottish Executive has agreed to support Scottish Opera’s business plan aimed at producing a sustainable future for the company, a commitment welcomed by the Scottish Arts Council. The plan is based on a vision for the future that will see high quality opera being available to more people throughout Scotland following a restructuring of the company over the next year.

The Executive has agreed to invest in Scottish Opera as the best means of ensuring high quality provision of opera in Scotland, subject to the Board and management ensuring that strong financial and business planning controls are in place to keep to the agreed business plan and available funding. The Scottish Arts Council will work closely with Scottish Opera in implementing the plan.

The Executive will make available up to £7 million to meet potential restructuring costs. In return, the company will repay its £4.5 million advance over four years.

The company will immediately begin a period of consultation on the proposed plan with the three recognised trade unions. Restructuring is expected primarily to affect the technical and administration departments, as well as the chorus.

The process of restructuring is planned to be completed by June 2005. Core Scottish Opera posts are expected to reduce from the present 208 to approximately 120. The company is in ongoing negotiations to lease the Theatre Royal to another party.

The statement from the Scottish Executive, Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Opera said:

“We have been working closely over the last six months to achieve what is best for opera provision in Scotland. The Scottish Opera Board has come up with a clear vision of its future role in bringing opera to the greatest possible number of venues and people throughout Scotland.

“The Scottish Opera Board submitted options on how this could be achieved to the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Executive. The Executive has now agreed to support Scottish Opera’s preferred option for the future of the company, a commitment welcomed by the Scottish Arts Council.

“Given the core level of funding available, the Board has concluded that to secure its long term future it needs to reduce core costs. Regretfully this means reducing a number of posts in the company and, for a short period, main scale opera productions.

“The plan adopted by Scottish Opera, subject to full consultation with union representatives, will lead to a reduction of approximately 88 posts over an agreed period. The Scottish Executive has agreed the necessary investment of up to £7 million to achieve these plans, including provision to mitigate the temporary losses which may be suffered by the Edinburgh Festival Theatre during the transition period.

“The Scottish Opera Board is satisfied that this investment secures a basis for developing the Company in the long term.

“The Board will wish to work closely with the Culture Commission to establish what role Scottish Opera should play in pursuing the cultural policy objectives set by the Scottish Executive.”

Notes to editors

1. The plan, which was put forward by the Scottish Opera Board, retains a core administrative staff and a 53 person orchestra. Approximately 88 full-time posts would be made redundant.

2. The one-off transitional costs are expected to amount to some £6 - £7 million. The separate core budget for opera production is £7.473 million in 2004/05 and will rise by inflation over subsequent years.

3. This plan allows for the £4.5 million advance in 2003/04 from the Scottish Arts Council to be repaid over the next four years.

4. The plans include:

• The completion of a season of main scale productions up to June 2005
• A nine-month period from summer 2005 with no main scale productions
• The launch of the new operational pattern - including main scale productions – in spring 2006
• The retention of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera to support Scottish Opera’s future longer term activity
• The continued support and development of the education, small scale touring and concert performances throughout the transition period
• Increased investment in education and out-reach work from 2006 onwards

Contact email(s)

Media.office@scottisharts.org.uk

Issued by: Scottish Arts Council