THE GUARDIAN – Thu 4 Jan 2024
“Arts organisations have called on Suffolk county council (SCC) to reconsider a proposed 100% cut to its culture budget. As part of its plans to make £64.7m in savings over two years, the council announced on Wednesday that it will stop core funding of £500,000 to art and museum sector organisations from April 2025. A shared statement from local organisations affected by the decision said the cut would make an “extremely modest difference” to the council’s overall finances but have a “huge impact” on communities across the county.Emma Buckmaster, Green party prospective parliamentary candidate for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, said it was “a shocking proposal … that will do lasting damage to the arts in Suffolk”.Full details of the council’s financial plans – which include a 4.99% increase in council tax – will be presented to its scrutiny committee on 11 January.”
Chris Wiegand Stage editor
Read the full article in The Guardian