"Disappointing but expected" was how Cath Watson, trustee of the Whanganui Community Arts Council Trust, summed up the Budget's provision for the arts.
The Government announced a $11.6 million increase in funding to be shared among the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet and Te Matatini Kapa Haka Aotearoa.
Ms Watson said the extra $700,000 funding for Te Matatini may have a trickle-down effect in small way for Whanganui.
"As expected there was nothing specifically targeted for the arts; and nothing targeted specifically for Whanganui arts either."
Ms Watson said she would have liked to have seen an increase in funding for Creative NZ.