Friday, May 09, 2003
The Govenors Guide to Minnesota Arts and Culture
"If we were to lose Paul Bunyan, it would be like a kick in our cultural groin," said the governor, once again showing a flair for visual metaphor almost as creative as that of his predecessor.
But rising up to save the unique cultural heritage of this state seemed a sudden turnabout for a guy whose proposed budget took a Bunyan-sized whack at state arts and culture funding, chopping it by 40 percent, a cut almost three times the rate of the state's 14 percent budget deficit. Though arts funding makes up just 0.00089 percent of our state budget, such deep cuts added insult to arts groups already injured by a bad economy, decreased corporate and foundation gifts, and diminished attendance after Sept. 11.
"If we were to lose Paul Bunyan, it would be like a kick in our cultural groin," said the governor, once again showing a flair for visual metaphor almost as creative as that of his predecessor.
But rising up to save the unique cultural heritage of this state seemed a sudden turnabout for a guy whose proposed budget took a Bunyan-sized whack at state arts and culture funding, chopping it by 40 percent, a cut almost three times the rate of the state's 14 percent budget deficit. Though arts funding makes up just 0.00089 percent of our state budget, such deep cuts added insult to arts groups already injured by a bad economy, decreased corporate and foundation gifts, and diminished attendance after Sept. 11.