DC residents, artists and relatives of JFK respond to Kennedy Center Shakeup – NBC4 Washington

Washington, DCS Art Society is still rolled from changes made to leadership by John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

Less than 24 hours after the announcement that President Donald Trump had been voted as chairman of the board, Kennedy Center Fallout sees highlighted artists and some of the remaining board members.

“I really don’t want to see any changes. I like it how it is,” said a woman who participated in a clothing test at the Kennedy Center Wednesday.

The art site and the monument to JFK, long a Bipartisan institution in the district, removed billionaire David Rubenstein as chairman of the board and replaced him with Trump. The Board of Directors – with 14 new members appointed by the president after removing 18 Democratic appointed – also removed the long -time president Deborah Rutter.

Posting on his own app on social media, Truthsocial, After the vote, Trump said, “It’s a great honor to be chairman of the Kennedy Center, especially with this fantastic board council. We will make the Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!”

The acquisition has already created ring effects.

Shonda Rhimes, Emmy-winning creator of TV shows, including “Gray’s Anatomy” and “Bridergon,” withdrew from her position as the board’s treasurer late Wednesday night. Rhimes was appointed by former President Barack Obama.

Author and actor Issa Rae, who was scheduled to overwrite an event at the Kennedy Center in March, announced on Instagram that she is drawing her show.

“Hey DC Fam,” she began the post to Her Instagram history. “Thank you so much for selling the Kennedy Center for” an evening with (me). “Unfortunately because of what I think is a violation of the values ​​of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists with all the backgrounds through all the media I have decided to cancel my appearance in this place.”

Rae added that all tickets for the canceled event would be repaid.

Some DC residents who have given money to become members of the Kennedy Center are now re -transferring their patronage. Rod Divelbiss, who has been a member for the past two years, now believes his money could be used better elsewhere.

“I’m glad to donate to a nonprofit that helps artists, whether they are in the Kennedy Center or otherwise, but I am very – we are very reluctant to have something to do (with something) that is led by Donald J.

“Why should he do it? Except he is a bully and he can,” Divelbiss said.

The triple threat of artists pulling out, donors who end donations, and leadership that criticizes the programming funds, such as artists such as Rebecca Herron, are nervous about the future of Kennedy Center.

“It’s hard to understand it’s real and it’s hard to know what it will mean,” Herron said. “I mean, how long has it been? Less than 24 hours.”

Herron, one of the founders of Best Medicine Rep Theater Company in Gaithersburg, Maryland, has performed in the Kennedy Center many times. She is also a frequent patron.

She has tickets for a show in July – but now she is wondering if this performance will also be drawn.

“It’s specifically on a POC-centered perception of how there has been money laundering in film,” said Herron. “And I’m worried that that show in July might not happen.”

Kennedy -Family Member Tim Shriver, nephew of JFK, told News4 “Kennedy Center is our country’s tribute to President Kennedy. It must focus on his vision of celebrating creativity and inspiration through the bold and fearless voices of our country’s artists.”

“Ball” and “Fearless” describes drag practitioner Tara Hoot, who has previously done a drag history – a reading for children – at one of Kennedy Center’s smaller venues.

“The Kennedy Center is one of the places you just dream of performing in, or just go into,” Tara Hoot said. “It just takes your breath away when you go in.”

In a social media post, Trump criticized the Kennedy Center for having “highlighted drag shows specifically aimed at our youth” that connects the 18 Trustee endings to one of his central goals of closing diversity, justice and inclusion programming – often referred to as DEI.

“It is a place where art is created and the art is beautiful and it is beautiful and it is thought -provoking, and it is diverse,” Tara Hoot said of the Kennedy Center. “And it’s just a place where I feel celebrated and love to walk in these doors.”

Tara Hoot’s official Instagram account has announced a Tongue-in-Kind Campaign for Kennedy Center board chairman, and a personal protest-a “queer and trans dance party”-is scheduled to take place on Thursday night.

“If Trump says he doesn’t want traits to happen in the Kennedy Center, guess what’s going to happen?” said Frankie Seaborn, a member of one of the groups that organized the protest. “There’s a drag show just outside the center because he doesn’t get dictate what the population of DC does.”