GoLocalProv | News | Trump Announces Closure of Kennedy Center for Two Years
www.golocalprov.com
In a post on social media on Sunday night, President Donald Trump announced the closure of the Kennedy Center for two years.
  • aramis87@fedia.io
    48·
    2 days ago

    Per Wikipedia:

    Authorized by the National Cultural Center Act of 1958, which requires that its programming be sustained through private funds, the center represents a public–private partnership.

    So it sounds like the government pays for building maintenance, and donors pay for programming.

    I remember reading a ?WaPo article saying that attendance was down to about 57%, with almost half the seats unfilled. And that was just from Trump taking control of the board, before the renaming. And that attendance was that low, despite staff having access to an unprecedented number of free tickets for family and friends and other giveaways. The article said that staff would close off the upper levels and relocate people to disguise half-filled houses, and that attendees were repeatedly encouraged to move closer to the stage.

    And of course, since he stuck his name on it, things have only gotten worse, with many artists cancelling their performances. I suspect the closure is petty retaliation for all the artist cancellations.

    Having read the announcement, it also sounds like he’s planning on tearing down the entire thing, and putting something hideous in it’s place. I’ve been there and the Kennedy Center has a quiet elegance; I have no doubt that anytime this uncultured bore makes will be tasteless, flashy, and built to the cheapest possible standards.

    • jacksilver
      31·
      2 days ago

      Yeah, I believe there has been a report of at least one completely empty performance. Additionally Philip Glass canceled his Premiere of his “Lincoln” symphony because "the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony.” - Source

      I think Trump is shutting it down to prevent more stories of how quickly he’s ruined this institution for the arts. Yet another loss for America.

      • aramis87@fedia.io
        24·
        2 days ago

        I think Trump is shutting it down to prevent more stories of how quickly he’s ruined this institution for the arts.

        Well, there’s that. Plus he fucking hates the OG Kennedys and how revered they are. Plus now he gets to destroy the building and grift the rebuilding. He sees it as all wins.

        • AnchoriteMagusEnglish
          10·
          2 days ago

          My personal bet is that the Kennedy Center will soon be announced as the site of the upcoming Trump arch.

      • buddascrayon
        8·
        2 days ago

        And I thought I couldn’t love Philip Glass more than I already did. Fucking legend.

        Fuck Trump and every asshat that’s enabling him.

  • ctkatz@lemmy.ml
    86·
    2 days ago

    translation: every major act hates trump and what he’s done to the place and the only people who would play the kennedy center are so beneath the standards of the kennedy center that if the standards were at the earth’s core these acts are looking up at it.

  • CharlesDarwinEnglish
    50·
    2 days ago

    Hahahahahaaaaaaaa. 🤣

    Everything Donvict touches turns to shit.

  • nexguy
    20·
    20 hours ago

    Whatever they are going to do to it will be expensive to tear down and restore just like the west east wing.

  • frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io
    18·
    2 days ago

    Is congress funding the center? Where’s that money going if there’s no operations for 2 years? I sure as hell can’t use federal grant money meant for one purpose on something no one approved it for.

    • BanMe
      2·
      2 days ago

      It says funding is already in place, so expect the tech companies to be footing the bill again, maybe some oil companies too this time, trading favors for investments in Venezuela infrastructure rebuilding.

  • underscores@lemmy.zipEnglish
    28·
    2 days ago

    why does everyone use this picture of trump ? is it just blatant propaganda? same thing for elon musk