In response to an article by Charlotte Higgins, readers discuss public funding for opera and the need to increase its reach, both geographically and demographically
Re Charlotte Higgins’ article (If we defund opera saying it is for toffs, then only the toffs will go. Where’s the sense in that?, 20 February), opera is not being challenged because it is for toffs, but because it is incredibly expensive per head of audience, as well as being limited in its geographic spread.
The resources that Arts Council England (ACE) controls have been disproportionately directed to limited geographic and cultural expressions. This is ironic given that while some of those resources come from the Treasury, a lot come from lottery revenues. The geographic areas that play the lottery the most get the least ACE money.
