SHORTLY after the announcement of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations (NPO), I wrote in the Morning Star about the questionable choices which ultimately were a hack-and-slash at the arts and warned about the negative connotations which were going to follow. 

Since then, there have been many developments and announcements – including Glyndebourne and Welsh National Opera reducing touring, English National Opera making some developments but still without anything completely finalised, and the Oldham Coliseum permanently closing its doors. 

On May 5, the North-West Psappha Ensemble announced that due to the 100 per cent funding cut from the Arts Council, which made up 40 per cent of their overall annual income, they were unable to overcome the deficit and will be permanently closing when they finish their “Composing for…” series and completely shut up shop in the summer.