Dance Magazine: Diane DeFries, former executive director of the American College Dance Association, has been attending performances at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since it opened in 1971. At ACDA’s national festivals, she saw generations of students look awestruck upon walking into the imposing Washington, DC, performing arts center.
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I think this is a super interesting question that a lot of artists are having to debate right now, not just with the Kennedy Center but more broadly across the country with various theaters, though it is more specifically being seen at the Kennedy Center. I find it really disheartening all of the personnel and ideology changes that the Kennedy Center is having right now as it was truly a hub for wonderful art and still has such a massive archive of work. I don’t want the lack of business the company faces to have any long term negative effects on the institution that would remove it from the theatrical ecosystem, but I do completely understand why people would choose not to attend the shows being put on currently. I hope that even with the people that are currently running the organization that art can still be used to inspire others and bring joy to their life.
I grew up dreaming about making it to the Kennedy Center one day. It being one of the biggest and most sought after venues in the DMV meant that to me, it was the end all be all. Because of this, you must be able to understand my disappointment when President Trump cut programs, and shows that were mainly telling the stories of minorities and marginalized groups. I completely agree and stand with all of the performers, designers and other creators that are choosing not to work there because of this despite the prestige of the venue. If the person in control of it does not value you as a human being then it is completely valid to not want to work for them or give them an ounce of your talent and hard work. I hope the Kennedy Center becomes a place that tells the stories that deserve to be told, by all types of people.
I can see why for some people they would have a hard time with the conflict between supporting the artists and not supporting the administration in attending performances at the Kennedy center. But for me the answer is pretty clear. Trump directly said they were going to stop allowing “woke” performances/performers at the Kennedy center. And that means that especially queer and artists of color will not be supported, in fact they will be harmed, by anyone's support of the Kennedy center and in the long run that will harm all the performers would would be there because the administration will continue to narrow its view of what performances are acceptable and eventually it will be none. If you have not read First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemöller you should as it is very applicable. If you don’t speak out now and stop supporting the Center now who will be there to do that when they come for you.
I think this article brings up some really interesting points in regards to the conflict of the ethical issues of both supporting and not supporting the Kennedy Center. On one hand I think it is important to acknowledge that artists, like all other humans, need their physiological needs met which in our capitalist society means having an income. I often try to be understanding of people who work with, shop at, and otherwise support organizations I disagree with (with exceptions because the world is not without nuance) because I know that so many people in this country are barely getting by. With up to 67% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, I believe people need grace when it comes to passing immediate judgment. That being said, I think supporting the Kennedy Center right now comes with its own ethical dilemmas of what it means to support a place that actively works to silence minority groups. I personally would not purchase tickets to see anything there during this presidency, however I understand why others would.
Ugh… as someone who lives right by the Kennedy Center, has seen countless productions and events there and even knows people who have worked there throughout the ongoing events they’re facing, it’s so sad to me that this is a conversation even worth having. I too am someone who hasn’t been to the Kennedy Center since it was taken over by President Trump and honestly I have no intentions of going anytime soon unless something were to change within the Kennedy Center’s leadership or public statements. The Kennedy Center is one of the biggest theatrical venues, both in physical size and overall impact on both a national and regional scale. It’s a beautiful building too. I remember volunteering at an event there and getting to explore the building at 6am in the morning with no one else there. Notably, I remember walking down the hall of flags, and it’s always an inspiring sight to see as you’re walking through, to know that art unites people globally. However… I fear that image has only been tarnished in its current state of affairs, and I only wish that the Kennedy Center can somehow navigate this and stick to their programming without the President’s claims of “woke” intervention.
So much of our life has become politicized and how you are either on one side or the other. With the goblin that are social media cycles trying to push content and engage users, everything is ramped up to the max. The transformation of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts into a political hurdle harms art, its makers, and its supporters. The gains in this move of wiping the Kennedy Center into a Republican haven are for the replacement and repaying political favors for Trump with appointments and having another go at trying to turn art into political propaganda to only support the United States. I hope that the hesitancy of formerly dedicated fans puts a push on the Kennedy Center to change back to a more impartial institution. That hope only extends so far because I do not think that this change meant to help the Kennedy Center but only to put it into turmoil.
I think the issue with the Kennedy Center for me personally is that I feel very strongly about supporting the artists who are performing there, but I just can't wrap my head around paying money to do something that supports an administration that is alienating so many people. I understand that many of the artists who are performing right now were under contract that started before the presidency started, before this Administration took over the Kennedy Center, so I am not judging them too harshly for performing there, when they were too far along the process to stop it. However, I don't think I would ever want to see something done by anyone who accepted a contract from this version of the Kennedy Center, not even a little bit. because at that point, at some capacity you are signing on to be a part of this part of the Kennedy Center's legacy, which I personally do not wish to do.
I think this debate is starting to become very prominent across the industry. The Kennedy Center is so dramatically changed at its core from what it was just a few months ago. I was lucky enough to visit the Kennedy Center in 2024 when it was not operating at the whims of the President of the United States and instead remained independent. Earlier this year, we saw Hamilton pull out of a run there next year, and a boycott by many members of the cast of Les Mis, and it seems that that is becoming even more common. What is even sadder about this is that even if a future President attempts to restore the Kennedy Center to its former glory, the damage may be too deep. The destruction of the institution as it was has forever undermined its credibility as a legitimate entity. I have some hope that it can recover, but that is years away, and will likely be far from the top priority in the aftermath of the current administration.
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