Funding cuts for Alberta’s artists

On February 9th, the Alberta government released its annual budget with considerable funding cuts to arts groups for the coming year. The Alberta Foundation for the Arts, which funds the province’s dance companies among other cultural groups, received a sixteen percent, or $5.6 million cut.Prior to the budget release, Alberta’s Culture Minister Lindsay Blackett told CBC news that part of the cuts would be absorbed by the ministry’s administration. In preparation for the 2010 budget, Blackett met with arts groups to discuss the cutbacks and his belief that Alberta’s arts sector is lacking an organized, single voice when dealing with the government – a sentiment shared by Karen Brown Fournell of Rapid Fire Theatre who, according to CBC, said, “… we just need a stronger team and a more united team to go forward to continue to encourage support and funding for the arts.”