Washington National Opera bows out of Kennedy Center
AP News••entertainment
Key Points:
- The Washington National Opera announced it will end its affiliation with the Kennedy Center and move performances to other venues due to financial constraints imposed after President Trump restructured the Center's leadership.
- The opera plans to reduce its spring season and operate independently to maintain a balanced budget, citing the Kennedy Center's new business model as incompatible with opera's funding needs.
- The Kennedy Center, now rebranded as the Trump Kennedy Center, requires productions to be fully funded in advance, which conflicts with opera companies' reliance on grants and donations secured closer to production time.
- Trump aide Ric Grenell, interim executive director of the Center, stated the venue has spent millions supporting the opera despite its ongoing deficits, and suggested the separation will allow more programming
