VocalEssence has a deep and rich history of nurturing community and bridging cultural differences through the power of singing together. And for many years, the NEA has funded the VocalEssence WITNESS program, which celebrates the contributions the Black community makes to the fine arts and to our common cultural heritage. When it comes to federal funding, there’s a lot we don’t know right now – but what we can say for certain is that here at VocalEssence, we aren’t shifting our values. Our goal has always been to go beyond the acronyms to create an organic and tangible sense of belonging for our singers and our audiences. We are not backing down from that.

While we were selected as a 2025 grant recipient by the NEA, we have not yet received those funds – and are preparing internally for what we might do if that commitment is not fulfilled. But we know the value of our WITNESS program, both in schools and on stage, and know it is worthy of the funding it has received from the NEA through the years. If the NEA chooses to roll back the commitment they’ve made to us this year, we will stay true to who we are and what we do best. If that means we have to turn to our community to help us replace the support we expected from the NEA, then that’s exactly what we’ll do.