Proposed Budget Would Zero Arts Council Funding
The 2027 City-Parish budget proposal would eliminate funding for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and 14 other local organizations.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The proposed 2027 City-Parish budget would eliminate $250,000 in annual operating support for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. The plan would also reduce funding to zero for 15 organizations, including Big Buddy, IRIS Domestic Violence Center and Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
Why it matters
The Arts Council's funding has already declined over the last three to four years even as it expanded arts education in schools. For Baton Rouge residents, the cuts would reach a wide range of community services beyond the arts.
The proposal would cut $250,000 in annual operating support for the Arts Council to zero, joining 14 other organizations whose funding would also fall to zero. Whether the cuts survive the budget process remains unclear before the Nov. 19 hearing.
The players
Big Buddy
Big Buddy is a Baton Rouge mentoring program that has operated for 45 years and has been funded since its inception.
Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge
The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge is the local arts organization that has expanded arts education in schools while its funding has declined.
The details
The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge has expanded its work by bringing arts education into schools while its funding has decreased over recent years. The proposed cuts would affect staff, programming and daily operations, and the Arts Council is asking for donations to offset the loss.
Timeline
Nov. 19: Budget hearing on the proposed 2027 City-Parish budget.
Philanthropy Pressure Point
The proposed cut follows the Arts Council's funding decline over the last three to four years, even as it expanded arts education into schools. If adopted, it would take city-parish support for the organization to zero after years of shrinking allocations.
Residents who rely on arts programming, youth mentoring, domestic violence services or food assistance could see those services reduced if the proposed funding cuts are adopted. Individuals wanting to support the Arts Council can respond to its request for donations.
The takeaway
Local nonprofits in Baton Rouge depend on city-parish allocations, and the Nov. 19 hearing will show whether the proposed zero-funding levels hold. Residents who want to weigh in can attend the budget process.
What happens next
A budget hearing on the proposed 2027 City-Parish budget is scheduled for Nov. 19, when Big Buddy's executive director is expected to speak.
Further reading
For more on local giving and nonprofit support, see Philanthropy coverage in Baton Rouge.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBRZ.
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