Mid Wales Opera which had been threatened with closure as a result of Arts Council Wales (ACW) cuts has been thrown a vital lifeline with a cash injection of £75,906 from Powys County Council’s grant funding programme, aimed at supporting and transforming the creative industries within the region. It’s now asking its many supporters and all those who care about sustaining live opera in Wales and across the UK to help put it back on the road.
Powys County Council successfully secured £675,000 from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) earlier this year. This funding is dedicated to fostering resilience, sustainability, and innovation within the arts sector across the county.
Among the beneficiaries, Mid Wales Opera (MWO) has been awarded £75,906. Founded in 1989, MWO has a rich history of producing and touring opera across Wales and supporting the career development of young artists early in their professional career. This crucial funding will keep MWO on the road, helping the company to redefine its mission, reassess its business model, and explore new means of funding. As a result of this funding from Powys County Council, MWO is only around £50,000 short of the budget needed to secure a sustainable future for at least three years, centred on an annual ‘SmallStages’ tour and related education and outreach work, with potential to add on a range of exciting new projects.
Now, MWO is launching an emergency fundraising appeal to bridge this funding gap. The appeal, which includes a dedicated CAF donation page on their website , aims to raise the necessary funds based on the news of the Powys grant and two generous personal donations totalling £15,000.
A statement from Gareth Williams, Chair of the Board: ‘Only a few months ago, we thought we would have no opportunity but to close down after one last production this autumn. But now, we are within touching distance of being able to put in place a three year programme of work, based around our much loved SmallStages tours, together with work in schools to introduce children and young people to this wonderful artform. All we need to make this happen is to raise an additional £50,000 over the next nine months, and – thanks to the enormous generosity of two anonymous donors – we are already a third of the way there! We’ve been really moved by the incredible encouragement and support we’ve received over the last six months or so – now we just need to turn some of that into cash!. And if we can raise even more than our target, we have more really exciting projects in mind!’
Mid Wales Opera (MWO) is dedicated to producing high-quality opera performances across mid Wales. Established in 1989, MWO plays a crucial role in nurturing young artists and making opera accessible to a wider audience. If you would be interested in supporting them please go to their website to donate or find them on social media.
About Mid Wales Opera:
Founded in 1989, we’re a touring company with an average cast and orchestra of 25 – but still very much rooted in Mid Wales and dedicated to bringing live opera to theatres across Wales and The Borders. Mid Wales Opera is committed to delivering a real and tangible experience for young performing artists, with at least 50% of the company’s singers being under the age of 30 or less than four years out of education. We’ve been the recipient of various national awards, including two Prudential Opera Awards for “excellence, creativity, innovation and accessibility” and our productions have now been performed in over eighty venues in Great Britain and Ireland.
Top Image: Scene from Macbeth. Photo by Craig Fuller Photography.