Council rules out 100 per cent cut in arts budget (From The Northern Echo)
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Council rules out 100 per cent cut in arts budget
6:00pm Tuesday 12th February 2013 in News
NEWCASTLE City Council’s controversial plans to cut its grant to 10 arts organisations by 100 per cent is expected to be ruled out this week.
Council leader Nick Forbes has promised “good news” when the city’s Labour bosses deliver their revised budget on Friday.
Labour Party deputy leader and shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman, who has met Coun Forbes said: “The reality is there is not going to be a 100 per cent cut to the arts in Newcastle.
The city council’s draft budget had proposed a total cut to funding to all of its arts organisation, including the Live Theatre, Northern Stage and Theatre Royal.”
The change of heart by the council’s leadership comes in the wake of a welter of protests from leading arts figures combined with behind-the-doors diplomacy.
Coun Forbes said: “We are in the final discussions with the Arts Council and hopefully we will be able to make a positive announcement when the budget is finalised later this week.”
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