UK Opera Association Budget proposal  

Bringing more opera to more people in more places 

September 2026 

UK Opera Association 

UK Opera Association (UKOA) was formed in November 2025 to be a voice for the art form and to provide a network for the organisations producing operatic work and the teams and individuals involved. With the assistance of funding from Arts Council England (ACE) and membership fees, paid according to a sliding scale relating to income from operatic work, we have grown to include 40 paying member organisations across the country with more in the process of joining.  

Background 

The performing arts contribute in many different ways to our national life. A recent report (‘Assessing the direct impact of the UK arts sector’) demonstrated how the arts have broad impact across the UK: impact on economic growth (GVA, direct and indirect employment and supporting adjacent sectors such as hospitality); impact on individuals (skills and health / wellbeing), and impact on communities (encouraging sociable behaviour, place-making, and stimulating discourse and reflection). 

Touring theatre, dance and opera are contracting sharply. Opera touring events have fallen by 24% since 2019, large-scale opera performances outside London by more than a third. UKOA was established, with the support of ACE, to help rectify discrepancies to ensure the art-form is available to more people in more places, for both established and new repertoire.  

In March 2026 the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said government is "accepting every recommendation made by the Hodge review". Adopting these proposals fulfils that commitment.  

Options for HM Treasury 

We ask HMT to consider the following options: 

Reduce the definition of “touring” from six venues to three. A production would then qualify as touring where the company intends to present performances at three or more separate premises.  

Reduce the number of required performances from 14 to 2 or more. A lower performance requirement would help performing arts companies whose venue network is small but who can play more often in each city.  

Introduce an orchestral-scale route. This would mean a production qualifies as touring when performed away from the company's usual venue with a live orchestra of at least 12 instrumentalists, as per the test for Orchestra Tax Relief.  

Amend Orchestral Tax Relief. If the requirement for an orchestra to be “the principal focus” of a performance were made more flexible, organisations touring with an orchestra could claim under OTR.  

If touring-specific running costs are brought within core expenditure but amending touring rate relief is not possible, ensure that touring specific costs are included at the 40% rate for those tours which do not reach the 45% threshold but do still incur significant touring costs. 

Investment in Cultural Infrastructure. Without venues like theatres, arts centres, and community performance spaces, organisations such as our members could not contribute to HM Government’s plan to deliver good growth in every postcode. Our members need thriving, sustainable venues across the country if they are to ensure that opera is available to everyone in every postcode. 

Other proposals made by the UK’s Performing Arts CEOs who are calling for a continuation and expansion of the CFF and the creation of a separate, one-off regenerative fund for one-off, large scale, regeneration and capital projects.  

Encourage more sponsorship and philanthropy. Consider the recommendations made by Baroness Hodge’s ACE review for increasing donations to the arts, such as a National Endowment Fund, boosting Gift Aid use and impact, considering tax benefits for corporate and individual giving and tackling corporate boycotts.  

For future consideration: investment in the cultural skills pipeline. Under-investment over many years in crucial parts of the career development of performers and others in the creative sector is leading to looming workforce crises. If the performing arts in general and the opera sector in particular are to survive and thrive this needs attention.