Black History takes hit

One-third of funding cut; city promises non-monetary aid

LINDA GYULAI, The Gazette

Published: Friday, January 26, 2007

In what may be a bad omen for Montreal's cultural organizations that count on municipal grants, the city has cut its grant to Black History Month by a third this year.

Montreal's $30,000 contribution last year to the Black History Month Roundtable, which promotes events in the city that celebrate black history and culture throughout February, was reduced to $20,000 this year, the city has confirmed.

"I don't think we're too pleased about it, but I imagine everybody's being cut back

because of the financial restraints of the city," Roundtable treasurer Aston Mendez said yesterday.

The organization is not the only cultural group getting a smaller grant because of the city's financial squeeze, said councillor Marcel Tremblay, the city executive committee member responsible for cultural relations.

"We're limited in what we can do," he said, adding that some groups have complained about getting smaller grants.

"People are all disappointed," Tremblay said.