How Portland choir Cappella Romana rallied to save concerts amid uncertainty about NEA grant

Perhaps no executive order of President Trump’s has so far been met with as much confusion and consternation as the one issued two weeks ago freezing federal funding for grants and loans. Although it has been blocked temporarily by federal courts, nonprofits and organizations are still reeling from the effect it’s had on grants they’ve won from agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts. 

That’s especially true if you’re a nonprofit like Portland choir Cappella Romana, which won a $35,000 NEA grant last May for the premiere of a work about racial reconciliation that fuses Orthodox music with African American gospel. As first reported in Oregon ArtsWatch, the choir was uncertain its NEA grant money could be accessed for performances of Canon for Racial Reconciliation in Seattle and Portland after the federal funding freeze was announced. But a direct appeal to donors, who gave more than $20,000 in 48 hours, has ensured the shows on Feb. 28 and March 1 will go on.

On the morning of Feb. 11, the NEA funds appeared in Cappella Romana’s accounts, according to executive director Mark Powell. He joins us to talk about the Canon for Racial Reconciliation, and how the evolving guidance for NEA grants may close the door to works championing racial diversity or marginalized communities.  

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