Arts to get boost

Artistic companies are set to receive a boost after the Ministry of Culture announced that, next year, will see subsidies to the arts boosted with a further 500,000 euros. The minister said that the increase in subsidies, destined to go towards theatre, music and dance projects, represents a 22 per cent year-on-year increase, amounting to 2.8 million euros as opposed to 2.29 million last year, and, in some regions, the increases are between 20 and 100 per cent. The Algarve had no financial backing for its artistic initiatives during 2003, but, this year, a total of eight projects are due to receive funding.