Michigan Arts Groups Struggle With State Budget Cuts

Since 2000 state arts funds in Michigan have fallen 73 percent, and the latest round of cuts is causing arts and cultural organizations to scramble to fill holes in their budgets, reports the Detroit Free Press.

Instead of receiving a promised $10-million from the state arts council in 2007, arts groups will get only $6.5-million. Michigan now ranks 35th in the country in per capita arts funds, the paper reports, a drop from its rank of fourth in 2001.

Three groups struggling with the cuts — the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, and Eisenhower Dance Ensemble — will lose $25,000 combined, says Maury Okun, executive director for the three.

“We’ll have to take it out of our reserves, freeze salaries, and cut new projects,” Mr. Okun says. “It’s borrowing from our future.”