Washington National Opera Is Leaving the Kennedy Center
The New York Times••general
Key Points:
- The Washington National Opera has decided to leave the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ending a partnership that began in 1971, in response to President Trump's influence over the center.
- The decision follows a turbulent year marked by artist cancellations, empty seats, and donor withdrawals protesting Trump's appointment of himself as chairman and the installation of political allies in leadership roles.
- The opera's board approved a resolution to terminate its affiliation with the Kennedy Center and operate as an independent nonprofit, planning to relocate performances to new venues in Washington, though no leases have been finalized.
- The company intends to reduce the number of performances as a cost-saving measure and will announce details about its new schedule soon, while the Kennedy Center's website still
