The Kennedy Center is verging on bankruptcy.
minute read
The board of the Kennedy Center voted on Tuesday to close the storied performing arts space due to their "dire financial position." The vote came as a federal judge said that President Donald Trump's name could not be added to the building. Trump pressed for the move in order to aid him in fundraising for the structure and he is the chairman of the board.
"The Board of The Kennedy Center today agreed, almost unanimously," Trump said, "to close the Building for Safety reasons, and so that it can begin the process of Reconstruction. The closing will take place immediately, however, the Renovation and Reconstruction, which is a very large and complex job, cannot begin until such time as the D.C. Circuit rules on the Board’s approved name. If the ruling is a negative one, which it should not be, and is not overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Reconstruction and the Renovation of The Kennedy Center will not take place. The attorneys from the DOJ will ask for an expedited appeal. In the meantime, 17 Million Dollars, raised by President Trump, has been put into The Kennedy Center account to keep it afloat. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
A recent ceiling collapse emphasized the concerns Trump noted about the building when he initially said, upon coming into office, that the Kennedy Center should be closed so renovations could be done. The plan was to add Trump's name to the building, calling it the Trump Kennedy Center, and to close for two years to make upgrades to the building facade and structure.
The board has voted repeatedly to close the building only to have their decisions held up in the courts. This Tuesday vote marks the third time the board has said that the building must close. Former board member Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio brought the issue before a federal court, saying that the board needed more due diligence before shutting down.
In ruling, United States District Judge Christopher Cooper states that he does not believe adding Trump's name to the facade would enhance revenue and donations, saying that "The renaming of the Center coincided with declines in revenue and contributions, as artists cancelled performances, the Washington National Opera ended its 50-year residency, and ticket sales and viewership of the Kennedy Center Honors broadcast dropped precipitously."
In his order, Cooper said that "Defendants must notify Plaintiff and the Court, in writing, if and when $100 million has been raised for the Center and provide at least 60 days' notice ahead of any action to install an inscription or acknowledgement of President Trump, the Trump Kennedy Center Fund, or other fundraising efforts."
The legal fights against the board of the Kennedy Center and against Trump and his proposed renovations are part of the incessant battle of Democrats against any Trump initiative. They were angry that a Joel Shapiro statue was removed from the grounds of the Kennedy Center and returned to his foundation. They have been in and out of court to try to stop the construction of a ballroom at the White House that is already underway.
The Kennedy Center was originally set to close July 5, but the legal action has stood in the way. The board also says that this legal action has made it impossible for them to engage in emergency repairs, though the judge overseeing the case said this was not true.
"The Board of The Kennedy Center today agreed, almost unanimously," Trump said, "to close the Building for Safety reasons, and so that it can begin the process of Reconstruction. The closing will take place immediately, however, the Renovation and Reconstruction, which is a very large and complex job, cannot begin until such time as the D.C. Circuit rules on the Board’s approved name. If the ruling is a negative one, which it should not be, and is not overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Reconstruction and the Renovation of The Kennedy Center will not take place. The attorneys from the DOJ will ask for an expedited appeal. In the meantime, 17 Million Dollars, raised by President Trump, has been put into The Kennedy Center account to keep it afloat. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
A recent ceiling collapse emphasized the concerns Trump noted about the building when he initially said, upon coming into office, that the Kennedy Center should be closed so renovations could be done. The plan was to add Trump's name to the building, calling it the Trump Kennedy Center, and to close for two years to make upgrades to the building facade and structure.
The board has voted repeatedly to close the building only to have their decisions held up in the courts. This Tuesday vote marks the third time the board has said that the building must close. Former board member Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio brought the issue before a federal court, saying that the board needed more due diligence before shutting down.
In ruling, United States District Judge Christopher Cooper states that he does not believe adding Trump's name to the facade would enhance revenue and donations, saying that "The renaming of the Center coincided with declines in revenue and contributions, as artists cancelled performances, the Washington National Opera ended its 50-year residency, and ticket sales and viewership of the Kennedy Center Honors broadcast dropped precipitously."
In his order, Cooper said that "Defendants must notify Plaintiff and the Court, in writing, if and when $100 million has been raised for the Center and provide at least 60 days' notice ahead of any action to install an inscription or acknowledgement of President Trump, the Trump Kennedy Center Fund, or other fundraising efforts."
The legal fights against the board of the Kennedy Center and against Trump and his proposed renovations are part of the incessant battle of Democrats against any Trump initiative. They were angry that a Joel Shapiro statue was removed from the grounds of the Kennedy Center and returned to his foundation. They have been in and out of court to try to stop the construction of a ballroom at the White House that is already underway.
The Kennedy Center was originally set to close July 5, but the legal action has stood in the way. The board also says that this legal action has made it impossible for them to engage in emergency repairs, though the judge overseeing the case said this was not true.
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