The compromise budget which kept the Federal Government operating this year will have a “devastating” effect on small arts organizations, including small theaters, according to the Washington City Paper.
In a detailed article by Benjamin R. Freed, the City Paper reveals that the new budget cuts Washington arts funding from $9.5 million to $3 million, and will have a disproportionate affect on small theater companies. The article singles out GALA Hispanic Theater as being one organization which will be most profoundly affected.
According to Freed, the White House is also pushing to have the grant administered by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, instead of its present administrator, the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs. The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities has brought the Hip-Hop Theater Festival to DC.
The funding cut was not to the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (which sustained deep cuts of its own), but to the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs budget.
NCACA supports many worthy organizations and their funds are un-restricted. NCACA grants are not competitive and they are given to organizations with powerful friends who can best navigate the system.
There is a plan on the table to reduce NCACA funding and another plan to give that reduced funding to the DCCAH.
I’m sorry to see DC arts lose any arts funding BUT giving the reduced NCACA funding to the DCCAH will almost restore DCCAH budget.
DCCAH grants money through a panel-reviewed grants application process.