“Leading arts organizations including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra are facing substantial cuts after a 25 per cent reduction in grant funding was approved,” reports Neil Elkes in Tuesday’s (12/8) Birmingham Post (U.K.). “Birmingham City Council currently spends £6.425 million per year supporting arts and cultural organizations but … this will be cut to £4.85 million from March. It is the third major reduction in arts subsidies … following a 17 per cent cut in 2010 and a further 20 per cent cut two years ago. Among those hit are the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Performances Birmingham—the charity which runs the Town Hall and Symphony Hall—REP theatre, Ikon art gallery and The Drum in Aston … The announcement comes as new research out today says Birmingham has enjoyed another record year for the visitor economy, fueled in part by the city’s arts offering…. Conservative opposition leader Robert Alden suggested that … the council … should seek more regional arts funding from the Government.”
Posted December 11, 2015
