The Arts in America

The recent upheaval at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, following President Donald Trump's self-appointment as chairman, has sent shockwaves through the arts community. This unprecedented move has led to significant administrative changes, program cancellations, and a broader debate about the intersection of politics and cultural institutions.

Donald Trump has appointed two Fox News personalities, Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo, to the board of the Kennedy Center.

The National Endowment for the Arts has agreed to remove a certification requirement that forced artists to attest that they will not “promote gender ideology” in order to apply for funding while the outcome of the case from the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Rhode Island is pending.  

The Kennedy Center has issued a statement from Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi detailing program cancellations over the last six months. This follows a series of cancellations at the venue, most recently for the upcoming tour stop of Hamilton.

Several theaters have officially taken action against the National Endowment for the Arts' new grantee rules, which are a result of Trump's recent Gender Ideology Executive Order.

Hamilton has cancelled its Kennedy Center Engagement due to Trump's takeover of the institution. Learn more about Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center here.

PEN America joined a coalition of seven national free speech and arts organizations, led by the National Coalition Against Censorship, in condemning the Trump administration’s effort to exert control over federally-supported cultural initiatives. We have all of the details here.

The Supreme Court has denied a petition made by a Memphis theater company to appeal Tennessee's ban on drag performances. The company filed the petition in December 2024, and it was denied on February 24, 2025.

The Manhattan Theatre Club production of Jonathan Spector's Eureka Day is among a number of canceled productions at the Kennedy Center following the Trump administration's recent takeover of the cultural institution. Explore the impact of the Trump administration's takeover of the Kennedy Center on cultural programming, including the cancellation of Eureka Day.

Several books have been banned by The Department of Defense at schools for children of service members, including actor Julianne Moore's Freckleface Strawberry, a book that includes an interview from playwright Lynn Nottage, and more.

The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington D.C. have responded to The Kennedy Center's recent cancelation of their concert with the National Symphony Orchestra, 'A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride.'

The National Park Service, under a new executive order, has removed all mentions of transgender and queer identities from webpages associated with LGBTQ history. In response, the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project has issued a statement.

The NEA hosted an open webinar covering questions submitted about the new guidelines for Grants for Arts Projects (GAP). Check out what was covered in the meeting here.

463 artists have signed a letter to the National Endowment for the Arts asking them to roll back the new measures. Signees reportedly include Pulitzer-winning playwrights Lynn Nottage, Jackie Sibblies Drury, and Paula Vogel. Read the letter in full here.

BroadwayWorld previously reported that President Trump was elected as the chairman of the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center. Dancers are now protesting Trump's involvement and the  changes at the Kennedy Center. Learn more.

Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter was fired as a part of Trump's overhaul of the national cultural institution. Soon after, several high-profile figures resigned from their roles within the Kennedy Center, including Board Treasurer Shonda Rhimes, National Symphony Orchestra Artistic Advisor Ben Folds, and Artistic Advisor-at-Large Renée Fleming.

The Kennedy Center recently canceled the tour of the new children's musical 'Finn,' composed by Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, following an administrative overhaul led by the Trump administration. This cancellation has sparked outrage from the Dramatists Guild of America, who are concerned about the implications for arts funding and freedom of expression.

Creators of the new children's musical Finn, Chris Nee, Michael Kooman, and Christopher Dimond, announced on Instagram yesterday that the upcoming Kennedy Center-produced tour has been canceled. NCaow the show's cast is reacting to the news on social media. 

Amidst administrative shifts, the Kennedy Center has deleted the National Symphony Orchestra's WorldPride 2025 concert from its listings, raising concerns about the impact of the Trump administration on LGBTQ+ cultural events.

Creators of the new children's musical Finn, Chris Nee, Michael Kooman, and Christopher Dimond, announced on Instagram that the upcoming Kennedy Center-produced tour has been cancelled. The musical premiered at the Kennedy Center in December and has since been nominated for a Helen Hayes Award.

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier today, President Donald J. Trump has been elected chairman of the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center as part of his plan to overhaul the national cultural institution.

President Trump has been elected as the chairman of the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center. This change came into effect on Wednesday afternoon, following a vote that marked a significant shift in the governance of one of the nation's premier cultural institutions.

As BroadwayWorld reported last week, after dismissing multiple members of the Kennedy Center board. The move became official this afternoon as the names of 18 board members and the board chairman have been removed from the center’s official website.  

After dismissing multiple members of the Kennedy Center board, Trump announced that he would name himself the new chairman of the board. Since then, he discussed the matter at a press conference on Air Force One on Sunday.  

The President just announced plans to dismiss multiple members of the Kennedy Center board. According to the Atlantic, they include Democrats Mike Donilon, Karine Jean-Pierre, and Chris Korge. He also writes that he will appoint himself chairman of the board.