Demonstrators held a protest outside the offices of Suffolk County Council in Ipswich over the proposed arts funding shake-up.
On Tuesday, a large group gathered outside Endeavour House to appeal for more funding for the arts in Suffolk.
Earlier this month, the county council said it would be withdrawing its funding for the arts and culture sector from next year.
In the last week, it announced a separate £500,000 funding pot will be made available for organisations to bid for after receiving more money from central government.
Tuesday's protest, organised by Equity, was held because the union said questions were "left unanswered about what happens when this new funding pot runs out".
Equity regional officer for the East and South East, Iain Croker, who spoke at the protest, said: "This is not a U-turn at all, it is more like a diversion.
"Encouraging multiple bids for many different arts projects simply means the cake has got smaller and cut into even more pieces.
"What happens when this one-time pot of money runs out?
"This is not the same as a long-term commitment to arts funding which supports SEND workshops, theatre in schools, discounted tickets for poorer households, and much more.
"It might work to complement the core funding already in place for the nine organisations across Suffolk but it makes the possibilities of securing a stable financial future for key arts organisations even more challenging."
Bobby Bennett, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for equality and communities, said: "We have been adamant since starting our budget proposals that we would seek opportunities to support the arts and heritage sector.
"The recent government announcement has presented us with such an opportunity. Like me, people across Suffolk are rightly proud of our cultural organisations and I’m pleased we have been able to make this proposal to continue to fund the sector.
"There are many diverse and exciting arts and heritage groups in the county, delivering amazing work in their local communities.
"The council has previously provided a contribution of core funding to just nine out of the many arts and culture organisations in Suffolk.
"Our proposal to replace the core funding model with the new £500,000 project funding pot, will offer equal opportunities to the whole of Suffolk’s arts and cultural sector to bid to help fund their projects.
"Together, we would enable more early interventions for Suffolk people who might need some support.
"Should this proposal get the green light, we will continue to work with organisations across the sector to help us shape how the fund is set up."
At the protest, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Ipswich, Jack Abbott, said: "I remember saying that the devil will be in the detail when we saw the proposal. We've looked at the detail, and there are a few devils in there.
"The funding is not permanent.
"It's a one off pot of money that every single organisation will have to go to huge lengths to bid for, it offers absolutely no security to the organisations who are doing that fantastic work.
"It's absolutely imperative the council restore core funding, the way it was set up."
Brian Theodore Ralph, one of the actors at the New Wolsey Theatre when it opened in 1979, said: "I was one of those actors who lived at a time when theatre mattered.
"It was supported by everyone.
"It's not just about entertainment, it's about the culture life of a community, it says everything about culture.
"I'm fed up of the government, failing to recognise the value of jobs, of music, of drama and children's lives transformed by the arts.
"We have got to shout about this because children now are losing out on having a wonderful education which is enriched by the arts.
"It's not a luxury. It's a necessity."
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