State Budget Cuts Would Hit Kentucky Arts Council

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear’s proposed cuts to the state budget would impact the Kentucky Arts Council. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer has more.The Kentucky Arts Council is among the many agencies who would face a 4 percent cut, under the Governor’s proposal.It would mean further cuts in an already tight budget that has meant less grant money for performing arts centers throughout the state and for artists.Lori Meadows is the executive director of the Kentucky Arts Council."This 4 percent will bring us to about a 16.5 percent reduction for the year," Meadows says. "(It) will represent elimination possibly of some services and also reduction of grant funds that have not been awarded to date." Meadows says the council is further reducing grants, including those for artists’ residencies in schools and for the operation of nearly 90 organizations statewide.The cuts have been difficult for the communities and arts organizations, says David Cupps, executive director of the advocacy group Arts Kentucky."I don’t want to see anybody hurting during these times, and I know that the artists and arts organizations are already hurting," Cupps says. "This is not going to help, but I think that the Governor was even-handed when it came to these cuts."