Missouri Classical Music News and Notes

arts advocates are excited that, despite the Kansas City Symphony's lawsuit against the state, Gov. Matt Blunt took the high road and recommended strong funding for the arts in his fiscal year 2008 budget. Many feared he wouldn't.

Best of all, Blunt more than doubled last year's transfer of funds from the athletes and entertainers tax into the Missouri Cultural Trust. The total recommended transfer of $7.8 million lets arts groups stop holding their collective breath over the future of Missouri Arts Council-funded programs. Just as important, the transfer embodies the spirit of the tax, created for the most part to help fund the arts.

The proposed budget is great news, say arts advocates. The lawsuit had everyone "shivering in their tutus" with worry that the arts would get cut, says Sandra CH Smith, Springfield Regional Arts Council's new executive director.