English National Opera (ENO) has revealed the 10 North West-based artists who will form “The Artists’ Table.”

The Artists’ Table 2026-28 features AFRODEUTSCHE (Henriette Smith-Rolla), Anna Appleby, Balraj Samrai, Jennifer Jackson, Jonathan Ainscough, Josh Inyang (Space Afrika), Kerry Andrew, Lauren Bowler, Michael Betteridge, and Richard Kudekha-Lark. The group will help ENO identify skills needs and shape its approach to new work and skills development in the region.

The announcement is part of ENO’s wider Greater Manchester program. Last week, ENO and the Royal Northern College of Music named screenwriter Stefanie Reynolds, composer Thandanani Gumeda, and dance artist Matthew Rawcliffe as the first artists on their Creative Incubator. In February 2027, ENO and Factory International will hand over the North Warehouse at Aviva Studios for an artist takeover of up to six days, with an open call now under way. ENO also launched its Greater Manchester Youth Opera Company pilot in July with 40 participants aged 11 to 14.

“Opera brings together an extraordinary range of creative disciplines and is at its strongest when it welcomes ideas that challenge, inspire and expand what the art form can be,” said Annilese Miskimmon, Artistic Director of English National Opera, per an official press release. “I am thrilled to welcome the inaugural Artist’s Table and this remarkable group of artists. Their insight, experience and creativity will help shape our thinking as we deepen ENO’s relationship with Greater Manchester and the wider North West. Together with our partners, we are creating opportunities for artists to experiment, develop new skills and make bold new work, while developing the practical and vocational skills that support the wider cultural workforce. We want to create an environment where innovation can flourish and where artists and communities can play a meaningful role in shaping the future of opera.”