Now France announces 5 percent increase in culture budget
mainNot to be outdone by the Germans, President Hollande has announced in Arles that culture will be ‘a budget priority’ in 2017. He expects to approve an increase in state funding of seven percent.
This is the sort of thing Britain is leaving behind.
Elections coming 2017…
Elections indeed, but here is a politician who believes that there are votes to be won if more money is made available for the Arts. Dream on in the UK…
Meanwhile here in the USA – The $146 million budget of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) represents just 0.012% (about one one-hundredth of one percent) of federal discretionary spending. The NEA has sustained significant budget reductions. NEA appropriations have declined by $21.5 million (-13%) in the last three federal budgets.
Meanwhile in the USA: The $146 million budget of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) represents just 0.012% (about one one-hundredth of one percent) of federal discretionary spending. The NEA has sustained significant budget reductions. NEA appropriations have declined by $21.5 million (-13%) in the last three federal budgets.
For many years now the French government has been transferring many responsibilities to local authorities without actually giving them the means to manage them. Among those, virtually all the conservatoires and music schools who have seen their budgets reduced year after year. Many orchestras have seen dramatic reductions as well, especially over the last year. I don’t know how Hollande intends to spend this newly found money for culture, but I’m not sure it will go there where it’s most needed and if it will be able to undo the damage.