Philadelphia Arts Programs Fighting Another Uphill Battle With Proposed Budget Cuts

Trang Do reports.

THE THE CORONAVIRUS HASDEEPLY AFFECTED THE ARTS INPHILADELPHIA, AND NOW CONCERNABOUT WHAT BUDGET CUTS COULDDO, GOING FORWARD, TRANG DO,REPORTS.MANY OF PHILADELPHIA'S ARTSAND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS HAVEGONE DARK, THESE PAST THREEMONTHS, BECAUSE OF THECORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.NOW, THEY ARE FIGHTING YETANOTHER UPHILL BATTLE.MAYOR KENNEY'S 2021 BUDGETPROPOSAL.THE $4.4 MILLION CUTESSENTIALLY ELIMINATES THEOFFICE OF ARTS, CULTURE ANDCREATIVE ECONOMY, AND THEPHILADELPHIA CULTURAL FUNDS,WHICH MANY NON-PROFITS DEPENDONTO OPERATE.IT DOES AFFECT WHAT WE FEELIS THE REPUTATION OF OUR SIT.I LIZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOROF THE FLEISCHER ART MEMORIALIN BELLA ADVICE TAX COMMUNITYART CENTER PROVIDES ARTEDUCATION TO SO TO SOME 20,000PHILADELPHIANS EACH YEAR.THE $12,000 IT RECEIVES IS APAUL PART OF ITS BUDGET, BUTSTILL GOES ALONG WAY.MONEY FROM PLACES LIKE THECULTURAL FUND, THAT ALLOW USTO HIRE TEACHING ARTIST TOSSDO PROGRAMS, TO GO INTOSCHOOLS, TO SUPPORT ARTIST.THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLEIN PHILADELPHIA, THE ARTSMAKES PEOPLE TICK, AND WE'REAT A LOST.EVEN FOR ORGANIZATION THATIS DO NOT RECEIVE DIRECTFUNDING FROM THE CITY, THEPROPOSE THE DOLLARS BUDGETCUTS ARE A HUGE BLOW, STAINEDGLASS PROJECT OPERATES OUT OFTHE KENDRICK RECREATION CENTERWOULD ALSO BRING STUDENTS TOCULTURAL INSTITUTIONSTHROUGHOUT THE CITY WHEN NOTMAKING MASTERS PIECES OF THEIROWN.ISN'T WONDERFUL THING TO GOWITH GREW P YOUR FELLOWCLASSMATES, AND SEE ARTWORK,BEGAN TO MUSEUMS.IN A STATEMENT, ASPOKESPERSON FOR THE MAYORWROTE THAT COVID-19 FORCEDVERY DIFFICULT DEVICES, ANDREADS IN PART QUOTE WE HAD TOFIND ALMOST 650 MILLION INBUDGET BALANCING ACTIONS INONE YEAR THAT'S FIVE TIMES THEDEFICIT THE CITY FACEDFOLLOWING THE GREAT RECESSIONOF 2008.WE WERE FORCED TO MAKEDECISION THAT IS ASDEMONSTRATED BY OUR ORIGINALBUDGET, WE NOT HAVE MADE IF WEHAD MORE RESOURCES.THE MAYOR SPOKESPERSON ALSOSAYS THAT THE BUDGET PROPOSALDOES RETAIN TWO STAFFERS FROMTHE OFFICE OF ARTS, CULTUREAND CREATIVE ECONOMY, AND WILLCONTINUE TO WORK TO SUPPORTART IN THE CITY.OF COURSE, THIS BUDGET SET NOTFINAL.AS THE CITY COUNCIL CONTINUESTO HOLD HEARINGS TO CONSIDER