Check out this poorly-formatted list from ABC News. It shows state arts funding for 2003 and 2004. Given Governor Schwarzneggar’s ouevre, it is hardly surprising that they’re cutting their funding by 90% (to a mere $1.9 million), the highest cuts across the nation. The nation as a whole (thanks no doubt to the Bush administration, terrorism paranoia and invading Iraq) is down 23%. Mind you, all the states combined only contribute $272 million to the arts. That’s less than a dollar a person. I wanted to compare this with Canada, which probably isn’t much better, but couldn’t easily find the relavent provincial funding stats.
I’d like to see a chart that shows arts funding over time, indicating Democratic and Repulican terms in power. I’ll bet it’s a roller coaster ride. I guess all of those California artists will be emigrating to Mississippi, one of the few states with an increase.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
A 90% cut? Wow! I realize they are in a terrible budget crunch and that secondary activities like the arts need to take a hit in those times, but taking away 90% of the funding in a single stroke seems tantamount to destroying any number of organizations. Sad news, indeed.
I did some searching at statcan.ca and found this handy chart for government spending on ‘culture’, at this horrifying url: http://142.206.72.67/02/02f/02f_graph/02f_graph_010_1e.htm
Culture is likely a much broader term than arts proper, but the numbers are healthy even after the declines shown in the slash-happy 90’s.