British Arts Groups Feel Sting of Funding Cuts

Backstage: "Hundreds of British arts organizations had their public funding slashed or eliminated Wednesday, the result of government spending cuts aimed at tackling the country's deficit.
The government-funded Arts Council England must cut 15 percent from the amount it gives to art, music, theater, dance and literature groups by 2015—which still leaves it with almost 1 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) to hand out.
The council said that instead of 'salami slicing'—cutting 15 percent from everyone—it wanted to create a smaller but stronger portfolio of groups. So some have been cut off entirely, while others have seen their funding increase.