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 has not been able to access its NEA grant money for performances of Canon for Racial Reconciliation in Seattle and Portland. 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.

Mark Powell is the executive director of Cappella Romana. 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.

Contact “Think Out Loud®”

If you’d like to comment on any of the topics in this show or suggest a topic of your own, please get in touch with us on Facebook, send an email to [email protected], or you can leave a voicemail for us at 503-293-1983. The call-in phone number during the noon hour is 888-665-5865.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/02/11/portland-cappella-romana-nea-grant-tol/