City of Melbourne to reduce arts funding by 20%

[blithespirit]

"The City of Melbourne - despite having a surplus of almost $8 million this year - is cutting its arts funding by 20%, or $300,000, which will have a major impact on the independent arts sector in the coming months. Essentially it will result in 25 less exhibitions, events or arts jobs in the next year, which in the middle of a recession, which usually sees people flock to the arts to escape the grim reality of their everyday lives, is a thoroughly fucked situation," writes Richard Watts.

Can it be *Melbourne* doing this? :(

Comments

[ideological_cuddle]

Well, it's Melbourne under Robert "tasteful buskers only" Doyle, so it's not entirely surprising.

[exhausted_pigeon]

Pretty much. I'm honestly not that surprised, myself.