Birmingham city council is the latest local authority to cut its arts budget – something we're going to see with depressing regularity over coming weeks. Monday's cabinet meeting approved a 17% reduction in its annual arts spending, from £12m to £10.1m. This includes 18% cuts for Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Rep; 15% cuts for Birmingham Opera Company, the Ikon, Dancexchange and Ex Cathedra; and a 9% drop for the Drum. The City of Birmingham Symphony faces a 9% council cut down to £1.45m.
Other organisations will have their money cut altogether, although they will at least receive transitional funding of half of what they are getting this year. These include Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Craftspace, Birmingham Jazz and Big Brum. It's not the brutal slash-and-burn approach, but no one could call it good news.
