BATON ROUGE — The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge is asking for donations, as the proposed 2027 City-Parish budget would eliminate $250,000 in annual operating support for the organization.

Jonathan Grimes, President & CEO of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, said the organization's funding has been decreasing over the last three to four years despite the Arts Council expanding its work across the region by bringing arts education into schools and creating more opportunities for artists and communities. 

The proposed budget cuts would bring the organization's funding to $0, affecting staff, programming, and daily operations serving the community. 

Other organizations that would receive no funding if the proposed budget is accepted include Big Buddy, the IRIS Domestic Violence Center and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. 

Executive Director of the Big Buddy Program Gaylynne Mack said that the program has been funded since its inception. 

"The work we do is very important. We've done it for 45 years," Mack said.

Mack said that she was invited to speak at the budget hearing on Nov. 19 and hopes that the proposed funding will be reconsidered. 

So far, 15 organizations will have their funding reduced to zero in the proposed 2027 budget.