Pittsburgh’s National Opera House receives $1.75M from Mellon Foundation for restoration

The Mellon Foundation has awarded a $1.75 million grant to the National Opera House in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to advance the restoration and preservation of the historic former headquarters of the National Negro Opera Company. The two-year grant will restart the preservation effort, moving the project from stabilization into its next phase while accelerating work to transform the landmark into a cultural, educational, and heritage destination. The funding will preserve the only surviving structure directly tied to the opera company and expand opportunities for performance, research, workforce development, and educational programming, strengthening a nationally significant Black cultural landmark.