from the editor ARTS FUNDING FACES INCREASED CHALLENGES
ou could blame it on the heat. Folks have been more than a little ouchy lately. But, when you start talking to people about the future of the arts, every- one is bemoaning the same woes. This darn economy! How many more cuts can be made before the patient is declared dead? Or, how little does it take to keep the patient alive on life support?
Y Linda James
And, it’s not just here in North Texas; cries for slashed budgets have artists across the continent squirming in their seats as they attempt to explain to deaf ears that the arts are of value! Today, I watched in disbelief a video clip of Canadian Sun News Network interviewer, Krista Erickson, taking dance icon Margie Gillis to task over the amount of funding she had received from the Canadian government. To her credit, Ms. Gillis remained graceful under the spiteful attack but viewers of the clip posted on YouTube are outraged at the implication that not only Gillis but all artists are potential targets of tax-hostile activists wag- ing economic battles in city council meetings across the U.S. and Canada.
In Frisco, voters dealt a possible lethal blow to the proposed Arts Center of North Texas. Spurred on by individuals declaring war on taxes, Frisco vot- ers withdrew the city’s remaining bonding authority for the arts facility.
Dallas officials, wrangling with balancing a bare bones budget, are contem- plating: cutting the maintenance of city arts facilities by half; reducing pro- gramming at cultural centers by 20 percent; and trimming 25 percent cut from cultural contracts. And, that’s on top of the budget slashing that has gone on over the past four years.
When arts facilities are underfunded not only do the buildings suffer, but also the artists who fill them. My fear is that decreased funding may pit
large art organizations against small and mid-sized arts groups. All are struggling for survival. Hopefully, a free-for-all will not ensue; instead, from my rather Pollyanna viewpoint, everyone will work together to preserve and foster the arts in our community.
A recent meeting held by the City of Dallas/Office of Cultural Affairs attracted interested parties from about 30 arts organizations to hear what Cultural Affairs Office Director Maria Munoz-Blanco had to say about The City Performance Hall. At its inception the new hall was designed to show- case small to mid-sized groups and serve as an incubator for new and emerging groups.
In conversation, Bruce Wood cited the importance of presenting in the City Performance Hall to attract potential donors and gain momentum for his new Bruce Wood Dance Project. The project’s recent performances in the Montgomery Arts Theater on the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts campus filled the 435-seat theater during their opening two night run. Wood is hopeful that he will be invited to the table when booking decisions for the hall are being made for the opening season.
There is speculation that Phase Two of the City Performance Hall with its 200-seat theaters will not be built anytime in the near future leaving small arts organizations wondering if their needs will ever be addressed.
It is yet to be seen if the new City Performance Hall will serve its intended users. The hall must be affordable and well-managed if it is to succeed in fulfilling its mission of providing a presence in the Arts District for emerg- ing, small and mid-sized arts groups.
page 4
august 2011
www.thedancecouncil.org
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
a publication of the dance council of north texas
vol. 14 •
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