WHYY PBS: Philly theaters reel from sudden loss of NEA funding

PlayPenn’s Artistic Director, Che’Rae Adams said $15,000 is roughly the cost to stage a single play reading during the conference. Instead of presenting four (Resident Playwrights) this summer, Adams is forced to trim it down to three due to the loss of the NEA grant.

“It’s disappointing that that voice won’t be heard,” she said. “What we do best is amplifying marginalized voices. I think it’s an attempt to silence those voices. It’s much bigger than PlayPenn. It’s this attempt to control the art that is in the world.”

The loss of federal funding does not surprise Adams. Earlier this year, the NEA sent out notice that its funding guidelines will not allow for projects promoting diversity, equity and inclusion programs. At that time, Adams began to assume the $15,000 already awarded to PlayPenn may never arrive.

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