Washington's iconic Kennedy Center is set to close its doors for two years in July as President Donald Trump announces his plan to renovate the venue, which has been plagued by financial and structural issues for years.
The announcement was made on social media by Trump, who chairs the center's board of trustees. The president claimed that the decision will transform the "tired, broken" center into a "World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment." However, the move has been met with widespread criticism from the arts community.
Leading performers have been quick to pull out of appearances at the Kennedy Center, citing concerns over the venue's values aligning with their own artistic visions. Composer Philip Glass recently announced that he would be withdrawing his Symphony No. 15 "Lincoln" due to what he described as a "direct conflict" between the center's current values and the piece's message.
The Washington National Opera has also followed suit, announcing plans to relocate its performances away from the Kennedy Center in response to Trump's takeover of the venue. This latest high-profile departure marks another significant blow to the arts community at the Kennedy Center.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center has yet to respond to requests for comment on the planned renovation and closure. However, with two years of construction ahead, many are left wondering what changes Trump hopes to make and how they will impact the future of the performing arts in Washington, D.C.
The announcement was made on social media by Trump, who chairs the center's board of trustees. The president claimed that the decision will transform the "tired, broken" center into a "World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment." However, the move has been met with widespread criticism from the arts community.
Leading performers have been quick to pull out of appearances at the Kennedy Center, citing concerns over the venue's values aligning with their own artistic visions. Composer Philip Glass recently announced that he would be withdrawing his Symphony No. 15 "Lincoln" due to what he described as a "direct conflict" between the center's current values and the piece's message.
The Washington National Opera has also followed suit, announcing plans to relocate its performances away from the Kennedy Center in response to Trump's takeover of the venue. This latest high-profile departure marks another significant blow to the arts community at the Kennedy Center.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center has yet to respond to requests for comment on the planned renovation and closure. However, with two years of construction ahead, many are left wondering what changes Trump hopes to make and how they will impact the future of the performing arts in Washington, D.C.
I feel bad for the Kennedy Center, it's like they're getting a major overhaul just when they need some love 
. Two years is a looong time, hope everything gets done right and they come back even better than before 
. Not sure what kind of changes Trump has in mind, but fingers crossed he's gonna bring some fresh ideas to the table 
. The arts community is already getting really upset, so hoping there's a way to make everyone happy again 
. Maybe this is an opportunity for them to get some new funding or something? We'll just have to wait and see what happens 
! like, I get that the Kennedy Center needs a facelift, but two years is a long time... especially when it comes to artistic events and stuff 
. i'm totally with philip glass on this - his music shouldn't have to align with some politician's views 
. and what's up with trump thinking he can just swoop in and 'fix' the arts like that? does he even know anything about it? 
. maybe there's some good that'll come of it, but for now, I'm just shook 
.
will they kick out all the classic performances that have been taking place there for decades? 
i just hope trump doesn't mess with the heart of washington d.c. 
. And what exactly does Trump plan to do? Is he just gonna slap a fancy new facade on it and call it a day? Or is there actually some thought put into preserving the arts community and making sure the center stays relevant?
. This whole situation has me skeptical 
. Can't we just get some transparency and hear Trump's plan for once? 
, can't believe trump is ruining it... think about all the talented performers who pulled out, philip glass is a genius and his symphony deserves so much more than this 
. arts community is losing its voice 
. how are they gonna make it "world class" after 2 yrs of renovations? what's the plan? 
some ppl will love it, others will hate it...composer philip glass and washington national opera are already pulling out, which is a huge blow 
what do u think?
what's going on with Trump and his renovation plans ??? 
artists are already pulling out left and right because they don't want their work associated with him . Like, isn't that what the arts community is all about - expressing yourself freely ?? 
not being dictated by some political agenda . I'm low-key scared for the future of art in DC ... anyone else worried about this?? 
does anyone know if they'll come back after it opens again? 
. I just can't believe that the Kennedy Center, which has been a symbol of arts and culture in our nation's capital, is being turned into a propaganda tool by Trump. It's like he's taking away a part of what makes America beautiful and unique. What about all the people who rely on this venue for inspiration and creative expression? 
. And what even is this "World Class Bastion of Arts" nonsense? Sounds like a total PR stunt 
.
It's gonna be super interesting to see how this all plays out, but not in a good way 
. Two years is too long for me to wait and see if Trump's renovation magic happens
I just can't believe this is happening... The Kennedy Center has always been a haven for the arts, a place where creativity and culture thrive. Now it's being taken away from us by our own president? 
this is so not good for the arts community its been struggling for years but now it gets even harder for artists to showcase their work 
i think trumps words are so condescending, "world class bastion of arts"... what does that even mean? 
. Fingers crossed it turns out for the best 
and trump is just gonna come in and ruin it? 
no way, jose! the arts community needs to stick together and fight this one 
can you imagine if they renovated all the museums and galleries in washington d.c.? it'd be like a total loss of soul 
. The arts community seems pretty down about this, though 
Only time (and maybe some creative problem-solving) will tell!