Arlington will cut Artisphere funding, says it must become self-supporting

Arlington County is planning to start scaling back the funding it has been providing to Artisphere over the last three years, and officials say the arts center must become financially self-sufficient or close.

Artisphere is expected to receive $1.8 million from the county’s 2014 budget, but County Manager Barbara Donnellan said at least half of that money is one-time funding, meaning the museum will have to raise more of its own money after next year. The center’s operating expenses have hovered around $2 million since it revamped its business plan in 2012, but Donnellan said she plans to give it no more than $900,000 after next year.