(Photo credit: Craig Fuller)

Mid Wales Opera has opened an emergency fundraising appeal following its cut from Arts Council Wales.

The company’s funding from Arts Council Wales was cut in September 2023. An appeal was submitted, but was rejected later that year. However, Mid Wales Opera recently received £75,906 from Powys  County Council’s grant funding program, aimed at supporting and transforming the creative industries within the region.

Mid Wales Opera also started an emergency campaign in order to bridge its funding gap. The company’s goal is £50,000. So far the company has raised £20,000.

In a press release Gareth Williams, Chair of the Board stated, “Only a few months ago, we thought we would have no opportunity but to close down after one last production this autumn. But now, we are within touching distance of being able to put in place a three year programme of work, based around our much loved SmallStages tours, together with work in schools to introduce children and young people to this wonderful artform. All we need to make this happen is to raise an additional £50,000 over the next nine months, and – thanks to the enormous generosity of two anonymous donors – we are already a third of the way there! We’ve been really moved by the incredible encouragement and support we’ve received over the last six months or so – now we just need to turn some of that into cash! And if we can raise even more than our target, we have more really exciting projects in mind!”

Since 1989, Mid Wales Opera has been dedicated to producing opera performances across mid Wales. This season the company toured Verdi’s “Macbeth” in Hafren, Newtown, and Aberystwyth, among other locations. A dedicated CAF donation page is live on its website .