Arts programs take $87m haircut

A map of Australia drawn in 1804 will live down under with help from taxpayers.

But while the Abbott government spends $200,000 working with the UK to bring over Matthew Flinders' original Chart of Australia it will cut $87.1 million from other arts bodies.

Funds not yet committed by the Australia Council, Screen Australia and arts programs in the Attorney-General's department will be redeployed to the "repair the budget" drive.

Tuesday's budget also revealed the $10 million Australian interactive games fund will be dumped, as will support for Asian cultural activities at the Adelaide Festival Centre (saving $1.8 million) and the Get Reading! program ($6.4 million).

Arts could get a boost from philanthropy though, with the government giving an extra $5.4 million to Creative Partnerships Australia to continue its work encouraging private support.