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Council Bars Duncan From Funding Arts
Funding the Music Center at Strathmore and other facilities was a priority for County Executive Douglas M. Duncan.
(By Rich Lipski -- The Washington Post)
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Several council members, most notably Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large), a candidate for county executive in 2006, also receive strong financial support from the arts community.
Many of Duncan's donors with connections to the arts community are longtime contributors who also have contributed to other candidates, including Duncan's likely opponent for the nomination, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D).
But some arts organizations said they're left feeling as if they have to pay to play.
"They have to go out and hire lobbyists," said Theresa Cameron, executive director of the Arts and Humanities Council. "They are not really happy they have to do that."
In the 2006 budget, arts grants were submitted three ways: through the Arts and Humanities Council, which uses a competitive review process; in the Health and Human Services Department budget; and by council members or Duncan.
Although budget decisions are still being made, the council appears ready to cut back Duncan's arts-related requests to about $5 million to try to reduce the property tax rate.
Under the plan approved yesterday on a 5 to 4 vote, all the money will be distributed by the arts and humanities group, which receives some county money but operates independently.
Council member George L. Leventhal (D-At Large), who sponsored the measure, said the change will "make it easier to follow" where the money is going.
Some council members said they hoped the decision would be the first step in allocating all of the county's arts grants through one source.
In opposing the move, the Duncan administration said it wanted the "flexibility" to "respond to the needs" of arts organizations, according to council documents.
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