Masterly sleight of fund has budget trumpeting a smaller cut as a hike
Does British Columbia’s new budget contain good news for arts groups?
Perhaps. However, it’s sort of like the father who tells his son, yes, he will continue to flog him … but the beatings will be less severe.
Before this week’s announcement, art groups fretted they would lose up to 88 per cent of the provincial funding they had received in 2008-2009. Instead, in 2010-2011, arts funding will (with luck) drop only 33 per cent compared to three years ago, says B.C.’s Alliance for Arts and Culture.
Still, the arts sector hoped for better.
It appears the Liberal government is using smoke-and-mirrors tactics to make a lousy situation look brighter. Says one Victoria arts leader: “It’s all about the optics.”
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.