The majority of Arts Council-funded organisations will face a cut in finances of almost 7pc next year, it has been announced today.
The cuts follow a 29.6pc decrease in the Arts Council England budget as a result of last week's Government Spending Review.
Following a meeting yesterday, an implementation plan has been agreed to reduce the council's grant-in-aid budget from �449m to �349m by 2015 - a real-terms cut of �457m over four years.
The plan involves a 6.9pc across-the-board cash cut for the majority of arts organisations in 2011/12 and a 14.9pc real-term cuts to the money available for the regular funding of organisations by 2014/15.
Among the organisations the Arts Council regularly funds are the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, the Norwich Arts Centre and the Writers' Centre Norwich.
Liz Forgan, chairman of Arts Council England, said these were 'severe cuts'.
'We are determined to lead the arts through this tough period using our knowledge, expertise and brokering skills and drawing on the resourcefulness and imagination around us,' she added.
For more reaction and details on how the cuts will impact on arts in Norfolk, pick up a copy of tomorrow's EDP.
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