"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 KapaHaka 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.
"Creative NZ provides grants for artists, and I would have liked to have seen funding there, especially for the regions. It's the regions that really need that resource."
