NEA scraps Chicago Symphony grant

Letter from CSO president Jeff Alexander:

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Chorus and CSOA Administration,

You might start hearing today on the news or from other organizations in which you are involved about a blanket cancellation of National Endowment for the Arts grants. The CSOA is not immune, and last night (9pm on a Friday) we received notification from the agency that our two grants, one for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and one for the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, have been cancelled.

We typically receive $80,000 total per fiscal year in grants from the NEA; already a very small sum compared to the type of federal funding orchestral institutions receive in other G7 or even G20 countries. It is not crystal clear we will lose 100% of these funds as one of our projects for the current fiscal year has already been completed, and one of our projects for next fiscal year actually does fall into the fascinating new criteria published last night by the NEA.

There is a chance though, the entire amount of funding will be lost. I write today so you are aware of the situation in the event you are asked by friends or neighbors if the CSOA has been affected. The answer is yes, but to what degree is still to be determined. Whatever transpires, we will persevere!

Expect similar announcements from America’s other great orchestras.

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