NATIONAL GALLERY CANCELS SHOWS

The National Gallery of Canada has canceled two big shows planned for next year. The reason? Money. “The deficit for the 1998-99 fiscal year was $5.4 million, almost half of which can be attributed to a drop in funds from Parliament. Gallery officials earlier this year had predicted the 1999-2000 fiscal year deficit would be lower, but the figures have yet to be made public.” And to make it worse, the current “blockbuster” impressionist show only brought in 74 percent of expected attendance. – Ottawa Citizen