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Kennedycenter

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Whistleblower accuses Kennedy Center of rushed renovations to appease Trump
politics3 days ago

Whistleblower accuses Kennedy Center of rushed renovations to appease Trump

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse released a whistleblower letter alleging the Kennedy Center bypassed contracting rules and rushed cosmetic renovations to please Donald Trump, with no-bid deals and expensive, supposedly unnecessary work (painting columns white, tile removal) that critics say wasted taxpayer money; costs cited include a $4.4 million deal awarded after work began and about $1.5 million in repairs, plus an $8 million contract for an experienced contractor. A May court ruling later required Trump’s name to come off the building, underscoring Congress’s authority over the center. The episode is framed as part of broader Trump reshaping of Washington, including personnel changes at the Kennedy Center board.

via Al Jazeera|
#governmentcontracting#kennedycenter#politics
Trump Cancels Freedom 250, Proposes MAGA Rally Instead
entertainment1 month ago

Trump Cancels Freedom 250, Proposes MAGA Rally Instead

After several high-profile withdrawals from the Freedom 250 concert series, Trump posted that the event should be canceled and floated a Make America Great Again rally in its place; he also referenced a federal judge’s ruling that his name be removed from the Kennedy Center. While Vanilla Ice and Flo Rida are still slated to perform, others like Bret Michaels, The Commodores, Young MC, Morris Day and Martina McBride have dropped out of the DC event (June 25–July 10), which is backed by a public-private partnership and the Trump administration.

via The Hollywood Reporter|
#cancel#entertainment#freedom250
Trump’s Contested Makeover: Renaming and Demolishing the Kennedy Center
politics5 months ago

Trump’s Contested Makeover: Renaming and Demolishing the Kennedy Center

The Bulwark’s Jill Lawrence argues that Trump’s unilateral plan to rename the Kennedy Center, shutter it for two years, and demolish parts of the building to rebuild as a Trump-branded facility would violate the center’s status as a living memorial and harm a civic arts hub. The piece notes decades of cultural and economic importance, artist cancellations, and ongoing legal challenges, and questions about staff, funding, and donor support as the project looms over the DC arts community and local residents.

via The Bulwark|
#demolition#kennedycenter#politics
Kennedy Center shutters for two years as artists grapple with uncertainty
politics5 months ago

Kennedy Center shutters for two years as artists grapple with uncertainty

Trump announced a two-year closure of the Kennedy Center for renovations, a move that comes amid rising artist cancellations and a drop in subscriptions and ticket sales. While some performances—from the National Symphony Orchestra to shows like Mrs. Doubtfire—remain on the calendar, many artists are left in limbo and questions loom about the impact on annual events such as the Kennedy Center Honors and the Mark Twain Prize. Critics argue the move signalsTrump’s influence and vanity rather than an arts-focused mission, while center leadership frames it as a brief, revitalizing renovation.

via CNN|
#arts#cancellations#kennedycenter