Trump has purged the Kennedy Center’s board, which in turn made him its chair – why does that matter?

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Trump has purged the Kennedy Center’s board, which in turn made him its chair – why does that matter?

President Donald Trump

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of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ board on Feb. 12, 2025. The remaining board members, most of whom he had recently appointed, then voted to make Trump the center’s chair. The board also fired Deborah Rutter, who had served as the center’s

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and already

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.

The board

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, who served in the first Trump administration.

The Conversation U.S. asked

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, an arts management scholar, to explain how the Kennedy Center operates and sum up the significance of Trump’s unprecedented interference with its operations.

Why is the government involved in the Kennedy Center?

The Kennedy Center, a unique cultural enterprise located along the Potomac River in Washington, has a complex ownership and operating structure. The campus includes three large performance halls, two midsize theaters and many smaller venues and public spaces that host musical, theatrical and dance performances, lectures, exhibits and other special events. In form and function, it looks a lot like other major metropolitan performing arts centers, such as

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. But its structure is different.

The Kennedy Center is part of the federal government. Officially, it’s a bureau under the

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It was originally conceived during the Eisenhower administration and later championed by President John F. Kennedy. It was

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The center

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, with a world premiere of composer Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass.”

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after the FBI warned him of possible anti-war messages encoded in the Latin text that might be designed to embarrass him.

The center’s

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captures its purpose and goals:

“As the nation’s cultural center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across America and around the world, reaching and connecting with artists, inspiring and educating communities. We welcome all to create, experience, learn about, and engage with the arts.”

Why does the Kennedy Center have a nonprofit board?

From the start, the Kennedy Center was

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. Government funding

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, security and restoration of the building and grounds.

Private funds, largely derived from ticket sales, individual donors, foundations and corporations, cover the performances, productions and other programs.

Those private funds cover more than three-quarters of the

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. Its

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explained that its US$286 million in revenue included $152 million from ticket sales, services and fees, $85 million from donations and $45 million from the federal government, with the rest derived from income from its endowment and other sources.

In accordance with this public-private mix of revenue, the center’s governance has always been a hybrid, with the structure of a nonprofit board but with political appointees.

The Kennedy Center’s board is authorized by its legislation to solicit and accept private donations, enter into contracts, maintain its halls and grounds, and appoint and oversee professional leadership. For the most part, it has the same responsibilities as any nonprofit board.

There’s a big exception, however.

While most nonprofit boards recruit, elect and develop their own membership, the Kennedy Center board consists of government appointees. About two dozen trustees serve by

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, such as the librarian of Congress, the secretary of state, the mayor of Washington and the speaker and the ********* leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Up to 36 more are appointed by the president, each

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so that they don’t all expire at the same time.

Is the board supposed to be nonpartisan?

The six-year terms reflect a goal of establishing a largely nonpartisan governing board, since presidents usually appoint board members aligned with their own party. Until now, that balance has been the norm. But that outcome wasn’t mandated when Congress passed legislation establishing the Kennedy Center.

Having a politically balanced board has

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raise money and attract world-class artists. For example, the 2025 season, as of mid-February, will or has included Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, jazz pianist Kenny Barron, soprano Renée Fleming, author David Sedaris, comedian Sarah Silverman and touring productions of “Parade” and “Les Misérables.”

Its in-house productions

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, such as “La Bohème” and

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. Many of the center’s theatrical productions

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and national tours, including “42nd Street,” “Noises Off” and revivals of “The King and I,” “Annie” and “Spamalot.”

I’m concerned that many longtime or potential future donors may not want to contribute to a cause that has suddenly become subject to partisan leadership.

Many artists and creative partners have

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to the Kennedy Center or

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at its venues out of an aversion to the board’s dramatic political turn. Some performances and tours tied to the center have been called off for other reasons that

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.

Members of the public may balk at attending events at a politically charged venue, especially with so many other performing arts options in and around Washington, reducing ticket sales.

What does the Kennedy Center chair do?

Board chairs are in charge of the governing board, expending considerable energy, attention, effort, political muscle and often personal wealth to ensure that the

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.

The Kennedy Center’s prior chairs have not been figureheads. Rather, they have been actively engaged in fundraising, strategic planning and public advocacy. The legislation that chartered the center requires that its chair and secretary “shall be well qualified by experience and training to perform the duties of their respective offices.”

Trump has admitted that he’s never seen a show at the Kennedy Center. He has no prior relevant arts board leadership experience. And he is

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in the state of New York after

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by the now-dissolved Donald J. Trump Foundation.

David Rubenstein, the board chair ousted by this upheaval, has given the Kennedy Center at least US$111 million,

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. The philanthropist spearheaded fundraising for its

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, securing significant support from private corporations and foundations.

Former Kennedy Center Chair David Rubenstein speaks at an event at the performing arts venue in 2022.

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Has anything like this happened before?

No U.S. president has served as a member of the Kennedy Center board before, let alone its chair.

Presidents do often appoint their friends and allies to government boards and commissions, and often remove appointees of previous administrations. President Joe Biden, for example, removed Sean Spicer – a former Trump press secretary and White House communications director – from the

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.

But that board is leading a strictly governmental body, not a public-private hybrid so dependent on private funding. And the speed and scale of this purge are unprecedented.

What are the potential consequences?

All big, multi-venue metropolitan performing arts centers are extraordinarily complex and difficult to manage.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is particularly so. It hosts approximately 2,200 performances that draw

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each year, with an in-house

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and

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. It produces the

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, which celebrate exceptional American artists with an annual gala, performance and television broadcast, and the

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, which honors one accomplished American comedic actor, author or performer each year.

It’s also a

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that serves 2.1 million students and teachers across all 50 states, doubling as an open campus: It offers

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of everything from classical chamber music and ballet to jazz and rock bands.

Even under the best possible conditions, this is a lot to handle.

Successful arts nonprofits benefit from a governing board whose members have expertise in the arts, business and philanthropy, are loyal to the mission above themselves, and rigorously follow the law. Beyond those basics, ideal conditions also include having enthusiastic audiences, passionate donors, eager and exceptional artistic collaborators, and creative and administrative teams that are supported and empowered to do their difficult work.

With Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center board, this national cultural center has now, essentially, turned into a branch of the White House. In my view, that’s

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in a nation that celebrates free and creative expression. It’s also disruptive to a complex, mission-driven enterprise that demands care, loyalty and obedience

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.

This article is republished from

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, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by:

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,

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Read more:

E. Andrew Taylor directs American University’s Arts Management Program. Some of its alumni and students have worked as staff and fellows for The Kennedy Center.

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#Trump #purged #Kennedy #Centers #board #turn #chair #matter

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