Government accused of cultural vandalism with its controversial drive to ‘level up’ the arts
The English National Opera is being forced to leave London as part of a controversial drive to “level up” the arts as critics accused the Government of cultural vandalism.
Millions of pounds in funding will be diverted from some of the country’s most cherished theatres, including the National Theatre and Royal Opera House as part of a “brutal” shake-up.
Critics said the move would “wreak long-lasting damage” as it emerged that organisations that will benefit include a gallery that “focuses on the fluidity of identity” and an LGBT festival that puts on drag artist cabarets.
But the decision by the publicly funded Arts Council England was welcomed by regional arts leaders, who said people all over the country would benefit from the redistribution of funds that had been disproportionately concentrated in the capital.