We know creativity can come in many forms. It's diverse and cannot be contained. It's not always just for entertainment and doesn't necessarily always have mass appeal. This program specifically encourages emerging artists who have different voices. I don't know, but perhaps that's a bit too threatening.
Certainly I want to lift this discussion away from the “why”, because after you've been in politics for a long time, sometimes the rationale has very little to do with why, but politics instead has a lot to do with it, which is what I want to ask about.
I notice there is an online petition, which, the last time I saw, had about 5,800 signatures. Aside from your asking why and wanting to get it restored, I want to get a feeling from you and the people you represent and you speak with, your friends and colleagues, of the kinds of activities you are doing to look for ways to have the funding replaced, or to find some ways of continuing to encourage the young artists so they do not feel the 100 grants or $2 million are gone.
So what political action are you taking, at least that you can share publicly? You may not want to tell me, and that's okay.