Leeds Lieder has announced that it has been unsuccessful in its application to the Arts Council for funding for the 2023 festival.

The festival announced that it was rejected for a grant of £60,000 and as a result, it will no longer be able to live-stream for this year’s events as the organization has been left “severely depleted.”

In a statement to Arts Desk, artistic director Joseph Middleton said, “Leveling up is a catch-phrase constantly banded around, but if the government wants art to be experienced all over the country, invest in organizations already successfully doing this. Leeds Lieder in Yorkshire, the Britten Sinfonia in East Anglia, Psappha in Manchester, the Glyndebourne Tour to Liverpool, Canterbury, Norwich and Milton Keynes, have lost funding. All these organizations are now in jeopardy or have shut up shop.”

A campaign has been set up to raise £60,000 lost in funding.  The campaign states, “While this does not mean that the 2023 Festival cannot go ahead our financial reserves will be severely depleted. This will have a significant impact on our forward planning for the 2023-24 Concert Season, the 2024 Festival, and our vital outreach work.”

This is the latest organization in the U.K. to be rejected from the Arts Council following cuts to other arts organizations, including the English National Opera.

The 2023 event is set to open on June 9 and is set to include such artists as Mark Padmore, Louise Alder, Sir. Thomas Allen, and Simon Keenlyside, among others.