×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Local Arts Leaders, Festival Operators Worry About Proposal

Photo by Perry Bennett, W.Va. Legislature West Virginia Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, speaks with Oglebay Institute President Danielle McCracken during “Arts Day” at the state Capitol in Charleston on Wednesday.

WHEELING — The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra could lose annual funding to the tune of about $150,000 if the Legislature adopts Gov. Jim Justice’s proposed funding cuts to the Division of Culture and History.

The cuts also would be felt at Oglebay Institute, which provides local artists with instruction and venues to exhibit and sell their work.

And more than two dozen fairs and festivals in the Northern Panhandle also would have to deal with reduced funding under Justice’s plan.

Justice’s budget, which aims to help close a $500 million gap with about $450 million in tax and fee increases coupled with almost $27 million in spending cuts, includes a $4.3 million budget reduction in the Division of Culture and History.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting was included in the proposed cuts, as was more than $1.6 million in funding for fairs and festivals around the state.

“We’re all a little nervous,” Wheeler, who met with state lawmakers at Charleston Wednesday during “Arts Day” at the Capitol, said.

The Wheeling Symphony receives almost $74,000 from the Division of Culture and History, but the loss of that funding could jeopardize additional assistance the symphony received from the National Endowment for the Arts. All told, Wheeler said, the symphony stands to lose about $150,000 under Justice’s budget.

“That’s about 10 percent of our budget, so 10 percent of what we do would have to be curtailed,” he said. “Now, what that 10 percent would be, we don’t know. … For example, let’s say we lose $150,000 worth of funding for the year. That’s probably the cost of two of our Masterworks concerts. Does that mean we have to cut some of those? … Those are the types of decisions that come with budget cuts.”

Wheeler believes the cuts to the arts “would affect almost every West Virginian in some way. The Wheeling Symphony is one of more than 70 organizations that receive funding from the Division of Culture and History — not to mention the hundreds of fairs and festivals that are included in the budget each year.

“The average cost to every West Virginian to have the arts put back (in the budget), and public broadcasting put back in, is $4.81 per year — not a whole lot of money in the scheme of things,” Wheeler said.

Despite Justice’s proposal, Wheeler is not ready to panic and he said he was somewhat encouraged by his conversations with legislators.

“It didn’t seem like they were happy with the way the budget was prepared, and it seems like they’re trying to develop the budget on their own,” he said. “The general consensus was that we’re too early in the session to really get a good read.”

Oglebay Institute President Danielle McCracken, whose organization serves more than 95,000 people annually through its various programs, said the cuts would translate to 2-3 percent of the institute’s operating budget. Although that may not seem like a significant amount, she said Oglebay Institute works hard to be fiscally responsible and the state grants allow the organization address capital needs while still maintaining a wide variety of programs.

Also included in Justice’s proposed cuts are historic preservation grants, which also impact Oglebay Institute.

“That is concerning as well. They provide support to the Towngate Theatre, the Stifel Fine Arts Center, the (Oglebay) Mansion Museum — those are all historic properties,” McCracken said.

McCracken also was at the Capitol Wednesday, and said she walked away confident she got her message through to legislators. She sees the grants as an investment that brings people into the state, providing an economic benefit.

“I appreciated the time and the support that our representatives gave to me. … I definitely recognize it’s a difficult time for the state, but my hope is there will continue to be support for the work we do at Oglebay Institute and other arts organizations throughout the state,” she said.

In addition to organizations like the Wheeling Symphony and Oglebay Institute, the budget also would impact many of the fairs and festivals Ohio Valley resident look forward to each year.

A total of 24 fairs and festivals in the Northern Panhandle received state funding last year, including the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival, the Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta, Fort Henry Days, the Wheeling Celtic Festival, the Upper Ohio Valley Multicultural Festival, the Sternwheel Festival and the Marshall County Fair. Several local communities also receive funding toward their Independence Day fireworks displays.

Debbie Joseph, co-founder of the Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta, said the almost $15,000 the regatta received in state funding last year represents almost 15 percent of the event’s budget.

“It would have a huge impact on the regatta, as well as a lot of fairs and festivals in our area. … This is something that keeps me awake at night,” she said.

Joseph said the regatta — which benefits Easter Seals — won’t go away without the fairs and festivals funding, but the loss would make it more difficult to offer free programs, posters for children and attractions such as animals from Oglebay’s Good Zoo during the event. Like McCracken, she believes the state grants are well worth the cost for the thousands of people events like the regatta, the Italian Festival and more bring to the area.

“In a state where so many times it looks like there’s not much going for us, we’ve certainly got tourism,” Joseph said. “I would hope lawmakers would give that due consideration as they mull over this big decision.”

The proposed cuts have supporters of the arts from every corner of the state concerned, too.

With a reduced emphasis on the arts in public schools, agencies such as the Parkersburg Art Center and Artsbridge in Wood County are providing programs for elementary and preschool students to make up for what they are not getting in school, according to Abby Hayhurst, executive director of the art center.

Children exposed to the arts do better in other areas of study, such as math and science, she said, but added programs come with costs.

“We can’t do it on zero money,” she said.

Jess Mancini contributed to this story.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today