Auckland's arts community is worried that the Council's call for submissions on its emergency budget will see a substantial funding cut for arts and cultural groups and events. Submissions closed on Friday. Right now, local authorities around the country are under the unexpected extra pressure on their budgets because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many festivals and other public events had to be cancelled, postponed, or held online. So is there a risk councils will be reluctant to help them get back on their feet? Lynn Freeman first put this to Dave Cull, the President of Local Government NZ. She also talked to Simon Bowden from Facebook arts group AACC.