by Martin Jefferies

The full effect of spending cuts on the arts in Kent has finally been revealed.

Arts Council England has confirmed which organisations it will be supporting in light of the government spending review last October, which effectively cut £100 million from its budget.

It said it had been forced to make "a series of painful decisions".

Among the groups affected by today's announcement is the Canterbury Festival, which will get £150,000 per year between 2012 and 2014 compared to £350,000 this year - a cut of 61 per cent.

However, organisers said their core annual grant had actually risen by a third - higher than expected - and explained that in 2010, the event received two large allocations for one-off projects.

Festival director Rosie Turner said: "This funding endorses our position as a key arts organisation for east Kent and will allow the festival to continue providing high quality international arts events.

"Some of our artistic colleagues elsewhere in the county haven't been so fortunate as there is simply less money in the pot.

"However, I feel the Arts Council has demonstrated great care and transparency throughout this difficult process."

Elsewhere, the Whitstable Biennale - due to return next summer - had applied to become a regularly funded organisation for the first time.

Despite missing out, organisers say they have received "fantastic feedback" and insisted it was "business as usual".

Director Sue Jones said: "The Arts Council has clearly had some very difficult decisions to make with less funding available overall.

"We're really pleased with the feedback we received and they have only taken on a very small number of organisations.

"We haven't been cut so we're in exactly the same situation as before.

"We're a small but strong organisation and we've still got a long way to go."

Meanwhile, the £17 million Turner Contemporary art gallery in Margate has seen its funding increased by almost 10 per cent - up from £463,000 this financial year to £550,000 next.

Funding will then be increased by £30,000 every year, with £600,000 set to be awarded in 2014/15.

Arts Council England said it would continue to support almost 700 groups, including more than 100 new organisations.

Chairman Dame Liz Forgan said: "This is about a resilient future for the arts in England.

"We've had to make some painful decisions and it's with great regret that we've had to stop funding some good organisations.

"But we'll still be supporting excellence and exceptional talent; supporting resilient organisations that can thrive as well as survive; and encouraging work that really enthuses children and young people, because that's where it all begins."