The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded Streetwise Opera a grant of £189,389 to preserve and share 25 years of opera and creative practice shaped by people with experience of homelessness.
To mark its 25th anniversary in 2027, Streetwise Opera will gather and preserve music, stories and reflections from its history. Recordings, photographs, scores, programmes, designs and oral histories will be made accessible through a new digital archive and public exhibition, sitting alongside our next production which will bring the collection to life.
The grant will support Streetwise Opera Pioneers, a paid career development programme for 10 people with lived experience of homelessness to gain behind the scenes insights in arts and heritage practice. They will lead work with current and former performers, artists, composers and partner organisations, recording oral histories, exploring Streetwise Opera’s archive and shaping how its heritage is shared with the public.
Rachael Williams, Chief Executive of Streetwise Opera, said:
“We are thrilled to receive this funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which will enable us to create a lasting account of the impactful contribution of Streetwise Opera performers to opera and Britain’s cultural life. By preserving and sharing the music, stories and creative practice of the past 25 years, this investment will also create a practical resource for future generations of artists and opera-makers, helping them develop more inclusive ways of working.”
Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Streetwise Opera has spent 25 years creating an extraordinary legacy. This project will ensure that the music, stories and achievements of the people who have shaped Streetwise Opera are preserved and shared for future generations. We are delighted to support this project thanks to National Lottery players – it will not only safeguard these important stories but also create new opportunities for people with lived experience of homelessness.”
Streetwise Opera will work with National Life Stories at the British Library to record 20 in-depth biographical oral histories with performers, artists, composers and partners. Excerpts will be shared through Streetwise Opera’s digital archive, with plans for the full interviews to be preserved as part of the British Library’s collection. The partnership will ensure that experiences of homelessness are part of Britain’s recorded cultural history.
Since 2002, Streetwise Opera has helped shape arts and homelessness practice in the UK. Over its first 25 years, it has created a distinctive body of cultural heritage, including new repertoire, co-creative methods, rehearsal practices, performance memories and personal histories connecting opera-making with lived experience of homelessness.
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Streetwise Opera’s 25th anniversary celebration is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
