Press Release 8May 2013
Opera North receives £500,000 award from Paul Hamlyn Foundation to expand audiences and reach parts of the community that are not currently attending live art performances
- Award from Paul Hamlyn Foundation to Opera North is one of five £500,000 awards to performing arts venues across the UK
- The ‘Paul Hamlyn Club’ awards aim to expand access to live performances across art forms and build relationships with groups who otherwise may not attend
- These five awards reflect Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s ongoing commitment to widening access to the arts and facilitating disadvantaged communities to participate in society
As part of its ongoing 25th anniversary celebrations, Paul Hamlyn Foundation is giving £500,000 to Opera North. The ‘Paul Hamlyn Club’ award is part of £2.5 million which will be shared amongst five performing arts venues across the UK. The award of £500,000 will be used to widen Opera North’s audiences, with a particular focus on building sustainable relationships with community partners in their local areas.
Over the five years of the award, Opera North will develop a model that has a long-term impact on diversifying audiences and sustaining involvement and interest. Opera North will tailor their approach to local needs, developing their own scheme, and reflecting the values and aspirations of the original ‘Paul Hamlyn Club’ which the Foundation funded to attract new audiences at the Royal Opera House in London.
The Paul Hamlyn Club awards are part of Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Paul Hamlyn Foundation is marking the anniversary with a series of gifts to organisations that help people realise their potential or enjoy a better quality of life.
Richard Mantle, General Director at Opera North, said:
"Opera North is a national company but our roots are firmly in Leeds and the north of England and our constant aim is to fully engage with the many communities here. We areextremely proud of the work we create in music, theatre and performance, and through this project we will be able to share that work more widely than ever before, giving new, localaudiences the opportunity to see, hear and enjoy thevery best of what we do."
Commenting on the Paul Hamlyn Club Awards, Jane Hamlyn, Chair of Paul Hamlyn Foundation, said:
“The Paul Hamlyn Foundation is passionately committed to opening up opportunities and new experiences for the most disadvantaged people. Throughout the Foundation’s 25 years our commitment to this principle has been the driving force behind our work. This remains as strong as ever, and we hope that these awards will help open up access to the arts for a broader range of individuals and communities across the UK.”
Régis Cochefert, Head of Arts at Paul Hamlyn Foundation, added:
“These awards will support local performing arts venues to develop tailored and bold initiatives to strengthen relationships with local communities. We want to see more people attending shows or concerts on a regular basis, but we recognise how hard it can be for venues to reach some parts of the community. We are delighted to mark our 25th anniversary with these awards and look forward to seeing the programmes take shape.”
Lord Hall of Birkenhead, Director General of the BBC, is a PHF trustee and was Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House from 2001–13. He commented:
“The Hamlyn Club was great for introducing new audiences and encouraging them to build a relationship with the Royal Opera House. About a quarter of its members went on to buy normally priced tickets and nearly one in ten now attends performances each year.This is a brilliant result.”
The five organisations chosen to participate are:
- Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
- Hall for Cornwall, Truro
- Opera North, Leeds
- Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Liverpool
- Sherman Cymru, Cardiff
ENDS
Nicola Dempster, Press and PR Manager
, 0113 223 3526
Hannah Stockton, Press Officer
, 0113 223 3528
For further information or interview requests for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation please contact Dan Watson at or on 07738 182 587.
Notes to Editors
About Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Paul Hamlyn Foundation was established in 1987 and is one of the larger independent grant-making foundations in the UK. The Foundation has been marking its 25th anniversary during 2012 and 2013. We make grants to organisations which aim to maximise opportunities for individuals to experience a full quality of life, both now and in the future. In particular we are concerned with children and young people, and others who are disadvantaged.
We prefer to support work which others may find hard to fund, perhaps because it breaks new ground, is too risky or is unpopular.
ENDS