Liverpool will 'embrace everything' as it looks for next 'story to tell'

Liverpool's willingness to "embrace everything" means it should become the next home of English National Opera (ENO), according to the city's Culture Director.

The company is moving to a new base outside of London by March 2029. The move comes after the ENO, currently found at The London Coliseum, lost its £12.8m annual grant from Arts Council England (ACE) and was told it must move out of the capital in order to qualify for future grants.

In May, ENO chief executive Stuart Murphy told the Guardian that Liverpool was a “very strong contender” to become the new permanent home of the opera and the city was subsequently shortlisted. Liverpool is up against Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham and Bristol.

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In June, Liverpool Council leader Liam Robinson and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram wrote to arts minister Lord Parkinson to ensure the bidding process is “as fair and transparent as possible.”

The two men said in their letter that the process "should be about choosing the place that offers the best fit for the opera to thrive with a sustainable future – and not simply the place that offers the biggest short-term financial incentives." The two Labour leaders said the city region's musical reputation and heritage, venues such as the Philharmonic Hall and the success of Eurovision meant it has “the strongest case that it is viable and sustainable and will allow the company to flourish as it enters its next chapter”.

A decision is expected by the end of the year. As that approaches, the ECHO spoke to Liverpool's Culture Director Claire McColgan about the prospect of