The Kennedy Center names new artistic director, amid concerns

Key Points:

• The Kennedy Center appointed Rick Canny, a talent manager known for working with ZZ Top and Tommy Lee, as its new artistic director despite staff complaints about his consulting business practices.
• Canny has been a consultant for the center since early 2025, advising on artistic strategy and programming, while the Kennedy Center remains mostly closed amid financial and legal challenges.
• Internal concerns were raised about Canny’s high consulting fees and travel expenses, including charges of $30,000 in one month and costly first-class flights, with some staff alleging lack of transparency and protection of Canny by the center's management.
• Critics note Canny’s limited experience in programming typical Kennedy Center performances like orchestras and theater, and the center has not publicly addressed these concerns in detail.
• The Kennedy Center claims financial distress and potential bankruptcy, with former chairman Donald Trump asserting massive losses, though no evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims.