Republicans To Arts: Get Lost!
The state budget approved Monday by Pennsylvania Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee may be nothing more than an opening salvo. But its zero funding for the arts, film offices, selected museums and public television threw a scare into arts leaders and prompted a viral campaign urging protests. “It’s a disaster,” said Philip Horn, director of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, whose line items went from $14 million in grants and $1.2 million in administration to a goose egg. It’s the first time the office’s entire budget has been slashed to nothing.
