Following a presidential overhaul of its board, including the appointment of Donald Trump as chairman and the dismissal of president Deborah F. Rutter, the Kennedy Center experienced a dramatic 50% week-over-week drop in ticket sales. This downturn coincided with the cancellation of several performances, including a children’s musical and a concert by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., actions attributed to a fight against “woke” culture. The upheaval also prompted high-profile resignations from the board and withdrawals from scheduled performers, such as Issa Rae and Louise Penny. The White House defended the changes, claiming the Kennedy Center’s previous direction led to financial losses.
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National Parks are truly the jewels of our nation, places of natural beauty and wonder that we can all be proud of. So, when I heard that US national parks are receiving a record-high gift of $100 million from the Lilly Endowment, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief and gratitude. It’s heartening to see such a generous donation being made to preserve these vital pieces of our country’s heritage.
The National Parks Foundation serves as a safety net for our nation’s estate, ensuring that even in the face of catastrophe, our parks will continue to be protected and maintained.… Continue reading
I find it incredibly alarming and disheartening that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has chosen to veto nearly $90 million dollars in arts and culture funding in the state budget, marking the first time in history that no money will be allocated for these essential programs. It is truly a devastating blow to the arts community and cultural landscape of Florida, with far-reaching economic and cultural consequences.
Economic studies have shown that for every $1 spent on arts and culture programs, about $9 more in related spending is generated. This means that the $90 million vetoed by DeSantis could have potentially generated a staggering $810 million for the state and local economy.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker