A veto by South Carolina’s Governor cuts funding for the arts. WHQR’s Andrew Jarachovic explains how the cuts may impact cultural events in the state.
Governor Nikki Haley cut funding entirely for The South Carolina Arts Commission. The arts agency, founded in 1967, provides seed money and sponsorship for dozens of arts and cultural events in the state.
As an example, the Spoleto Festival—a major arts event held annually in Charleston—sells 70,000 tickets per year, attracts visitors from 47 states and brings in an excess of $55 million.
Nigel Redden, the General Director of Spoleto Festival USA, says the governor’s veto essentially shuts down the Arts Commission:
“Certainly for Spoleto Festival U.S.A. we have very much depended on the support from the state which has been very significant from the beginning. Unfortunately that has been cut back recently and it’s a real challenge for us as to how this will impact our future.”
- Nigel Redden, General Director of Spoleto Festival USA
The South Carolina legislature will reconvene this week to consider an override of Governor Nikki Haley’s veto of the Arts Commission’s funding.