1 of 5 | The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which was recently renamed the Trump Kennedy Center, is seen in Washington, D.C., on December 30. The facility’s board of trustees is expected to vote Monday whether to close for two years for renovations. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
March 16 (UPI) — The board of trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., voted Monday to shutter the facility for two years to carry out renovations that some critics worry could result in a structural overhaul akin to the White House’s East Wing.
The vote comes a month after President Donald Trump announced that he wants to close the Kennedy Center for two years for construction amid artist cancellations and boycotts over his cultural agenda.
Ahead of the board meeting to hold the vote, Trump told those in attendance, “it’s a little late for the board because we’ve already announced it.”
“These are minor details, but I think everybody agrees.”
Trump announced that materials for the renovation, including marble and new seating, had already been purchased.
Trump said the decision to close the facility came after a yearlong review in consultation with contractors, musical experts, arts institutions, and advisers and consultants. He had initially considered a partial project that would permit shows to continue, but decided the best option for the venue was a temporary closure.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, an ex officio member of the board who sued to have access about the details of renovations, said she believes Trump wants to shutter the Kennedy Center in response to dozens of individuals and cultural organizations who have canceled appearances there in response to Trump trying to rename the center after himself. Beatty said the documents she received about the renovations were “inadequate.”
She said “the documents prove that there is absolutely no basis to shutter this precious living memorial and beloved institution,” she said in a statement. “It certainly looks like President Trump is shutting down the center because he is embarrassed that ticket sales are down and artists are fleeing since his illegal renaming.”
Beatty’s lawyers said she was concerned Trump might use his hand-selected board to push through wholesale changes at the Kennedy Center to design a facility more to his liking. In October, Trump had the East Wing of the White House demolished to make room for a $250 million ballroom.
In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump shared renderings of what he expected the so-called Trump-Kennedy Center to look like after the renovations. He said he’s not planning to rip out the facade.
“I’ll be using the steels. So we’re using the structure, we’re using some of the marble, and some of the marble comes down,” he said.
A Washington Post analysis of the renderings show very few changes to the exterior of the building, including altered cornices, updated roof and some windows, painted columns, new signage and landscaping changes.
The group Hands Off the Arts has held weekly protests outside the Kennedy Center over the changes. A participant, drag queen Tara Hoot, said “there’s no need for it to close.”
“The carpet’s brand new, right? They already have some things planned in the works to redo the Kennedy Center and parts of it, maintenance, so there’s no reason to close it,” Hoot said, according to WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C.
“There are jobs, lots of jobs, and people are going to lose their jobs. The economy is terrible right now. Why do we want more people to lose their jobs?”
President Donald Trump speaks during an event celebrating Women’s History Month in the East Room of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo