Page 165 - Media Coverage Book - 75th Aldeburgh Festival 2024

The decision is a result of an extensive and ongoing

consultation process with ETO staff, performers and

technical teams, as well as partner venues and

organisations, local councils and schools to ensure the
greatest positive impact on the widest possible audience.

85% of ETO’s work already takes place outside of London,

and therefore exploring options as part of the Arts Council

England Transfer Programme was a natural extension of the

company’s mission to make exceptional artistic
experiences available to all. ETO brings outstanding live

productions and impactful education and community

projects to thousands of people across England each year,

visiting more towns and cities than any other UK opera

company.

Sheffield is a major, historic city with a thriving cultural and
creative industries sector, accounting for 7.2% of Sheffield’s

working population – almost double the national average.

ETO already has existing links with Sheffield built through its

regular visits to Sheffield Theatres on its tours and work with

the Sheffield Music Hub and partner schools in the area. This

move allows the company to deepen its relationship with
Sheffield Theatres and work closely with new partner

organisations such as Music in the Round in broadening the

scope of their work and introduce new audiences to opera.

ETO also looks forward to building on exciting initial

discussions around partnerships with Sheffield Hallam and
Sheffield Universities. Sheffield is ideally located for much of

ETO’s touring cycle, especially for its other venues in the

North of England, which include Buxton Opera House, York