Greater Lafayette arts groups ready to deal with state budget cuts

By Clyde Slyder, Journal & Courier

cslyder@jconline.com

It could have been worse, arts fans were saying Wednesday about the state's new two-year budget.

Though the new state budget cut funding for the arts over the next two years by about 20 percent, it's not the 50 percent cut suggested by Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Greater Lafayette's arts community reacted to the news with a mixture of disappointment and frustration on Wednesday.

But even before the budget was passed, most realized cuts were on the way.

"We've been preparing ourselves for a cut in the budget," said Tetia Lee, executive director of the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, or TAF.