Garsington Opera, based near Stokenchurch, has been commissioned to help bring opera to the masses by delivering a programme of free events throughout the country.

Arts Council England has approved £750,000 for the Opera for All programme which will deliver free public screenings, together with education projects, from Garsington Opera.

The screenings will take place in the North, South East, South West and Midlands, including East Lindsey.

Garsington, which is based at the Wormsley Estate, will also be working with members of the Coastal Communities Alliance, which has identified areas of where there is ‘low engagement’ with the arts for the project to target.

Douglas Boyd, Artistic Director said: “We are thrilled that Arts Council England is supporting the Opera for All project, which will be delivered in partnership with East Lindsey District Council and the Coastal Communities Alliance.

“To be able to reach new audiences through extensive education work and free opera screenings in areas that have limited engagement with the arts is vital and will have an enormous impact in the various communities who will participate in the project, as well as for access to opera and the arts nationwide.

“This news comes at an exciting time in Garsington Opera’s development as we continue to strive for the very highest quality of production and performance in our award-winning new opera house at Wormsley.

“We are passionate about sharing our work with the widest possible audience and both this project and the continued work of our brilliant education team clearly demonstrates that what we do off the platform is as important as what we do on it.”

A large-scale programme of education and outreach work will operate alongside the digital free public screenings and will aims to provide opportunities for communities to be involved in creating and learning about opera.

In 2012, Offenbach’s La Périchole was broadcast live to Skegness from Garsington Opera, with Sir Terry Wogan as compere.

Following this success, in 2013 the SO Festival presented a relay of Humperdinck’s Hänsel and Gretel and in 2014 Offenbach’s Vert-Vert, both from Garsington Opera. Educational projects took place in support of these free screenings.