By Susan Orr, Evansville Courier & Press

A smaller state budget means the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana will have less money to distribute to area arts organizations.

The budget passed last month by the Indiana General Assembly includes a 20 percent reduction in funding for the Indiana Arts Commission. In response to these cuts, the arts commission announced Tuesday it is reducing the amount of money it provides to its regional partner organizations throughout the state.

"In general, the arts are going to have some suffering going on," said Mary Jane Schenk, council director. The Evansville-based group is the umbrella organization for more than 50 arts and cultural groups in Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey, Gibson, Knox and Pike counties.

The biggest local effect, Schenk said, will be the 21 percent reduction in Regional Arts Partnership block grants. The Indiana Arts Commission provides these block grants to 12 regional partners who split that money among their local arts organizations.

Last year, Schenk said her organization distributed $132,000 in block grants. This year, she tentatively expects to distribute $98,418 among 24 regional groups.

The Indiana Arts Commission also is making cuts in other programs.

The state arts commission eliminated its Presenter Touring program and its American Masterpieces program. Schenk said this affects only the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, which had applied for a $3,400 Presenter Touring grant.