Brooklyn and city cultural institutions will have to now make their cases for taxpayer dollars.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R-NYC) made that funding announcement Wednesday as City Council Speaker Christine Quinn stood by his side. The city wants to revamp its old way of funding the arts by making all organizations come before a board. About 600 organizations will compete for $30 million in the 2008 fiscal year.

Bloomberg says the new system is fair and will ensure institutions won't rest on their laurels or be shortchanged.