New York State Budget Would Cut Arts Funds

Jan. 25, 2010, The New York Times — Cultural support in New York State would be cut $9.6 million under the 2010-11 budget proposed by Gov. David A. Paterson on Tuesday. A final version of the budget is due to be enacted by April 1. The governor’s proposal would cut funds to the New York State Council on the Arts by $6.5 million for its grant-making and by $600,000 for its administrative budget. In addition state support would be eliminated for the Egg performing arts center in Albany and begin to be phased out for the New York State Theater Institute in Troy. (There would also be a decrease of $400,000 from the 2009-10 budget because of the elimination of one-time funds for grants to arts and cultural organizations provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.) “I’m deeply disappointed and distressed,” said Norma P. Munn, the chairwoman of the New York City Arts Coalition, referring to the proposed reduction in arts council funds. “That’s an extraordinary cut.”