Minister Bill Fraser wants to make arts funding more efficient

ArtsNBexecutive director Akoulina Connell wonders what will happen to the organization if the proposed government cuts are put into place.

Connell said Tuesday the provincial arts board may not survive ifthousands of dollars in funding is cut.

The board operates at arm's-length from the province to administer funding to artists.

Bill Fraser, the Minister for Tourism, Heritage and Culture said he wants to make arts funding more efficient.

The province plans to cut $200,000 from ArtsNB's budget this year and another $200,000 next year.

In 2014-2105, Arts NB received $736,000 of its funding directly from the province and another $700,000 from Atlantic Lottery funds. Other funding came from grants and interest earned.

ArtsNB had a total revenue of $1,687,986last year.$1,480,681 of that was available forit own administration and the funding of New Brunswickartists.Of that money $910,000 went to artists and $572,308 went towardadministration costs.

Fraser said that he thinks that amount is too high.

"The only change is administratively to ensure the maximum amount of money that is being distributed goes directly to artists and the art organization, not to the administrative model," said Fraser.

But Connell said the proposed changes will erode the board's mandate of keeping arts funding separate from politics.

"All creation-based activities should be managed under the arts board at arm's length from government with no chance of political interference. That's the point we disagree on," said Connell.

Days before ascheduledmeet betweenArtsNB andFraser, the board released an independent research report, "Provincial Arts Funding in New Brunswick: A Provincial and Comparative Assessment,"looking at how it could work more efficiently with the province.

"I think it would be disastrous to make what is ostensibly a financial decision, a decision that removes aninstitution that is an example of best practice in terms of arts finding deliver model," said Connell.

"So I think it's throwing the baby out with a spritz of bathwater."

Both sides are scheduled to meet Feb. 11.