Arts community reacts to city’s budget cuts
November 19, 2008
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
By Kate Horodyski
The speakers say local businesses, tourism, city hall, artists and the entire arts sector will all suffer from these cuts. Many expressed their frustration towards the city for going back on its 2006 promise to increase arts funding.
“It’s not spending money,” says Julian Armour, President of Ottawa Festivals d’Ottawa, “It’s money that’s well invested.”
He adds that the city’s festivals typically raise $21 for every $1 the city invests.
Christine Tremblay, Executive Director of Arts Ottawa East-Est, says if the municipal government pulls out its funding support, it will create a domino effect. If the sector does not have the government’s support than investors will pull their funding as well.
A loss of funding, she says, will be a “peril” for the arts.
The 2009 budget is set to be approved by Dec. 5.
Read full story on the Centretown News website: Arts community reacts to city’s budget cuts
