Tim Robbins to speak for the arts in L.A. rally Wednesday against federal spending cuts
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Tim Robbins is expected to state the case against cuts in federal cultural spending Wednesday in a downtown ‘Rally to Protect L.A.’s Recovery’ that will protest proposed reductions totaling $60 billion that would impact a wide array of government programs and services.
Olga Garay, executive director of the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs, said Tuesday that she is pleased that the arts, which make up a relatively meager slice of the federal budget, are going to be represented, and ‘having someone of Tim Robbins’ stature be a spokesman is really meaningful.’
Robbins, a film star and writer-director, is the founder and artistic director of the Actors’ Gang theater in Culver City. He’ll join elected officials and representatives of nonprofit organizations for the 2:30 p.m. event at Ed Roybal Plaza, 255 E. Temple St.
Organizers say L.A. would stand to lose up to $2 billion if cuts called for in a Republican-backed House of Representatives spending bill were to be enacted. The Senate, with its Democratic majority, rejected that plan and now the two branches of Congress and the Obama administration are trying to work out a mutually acceptable agreement.
Other stars prepping for close-ups as lobbyists are Alec Baldwin and Kerry Washington, who have been enlisted as participants in the April 5 Arts Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, in which the arts community tries to make a case for federal arts funding.
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-- Mike Boehm
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