Ousted Kennedy Center president says artists must feel "welcome and safe"

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Ousted Kennedy Center President Says Artists Must Feel 'Welcome and Safe'"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Consider This from NPR
• Host/Author: NPR
• Episode: Ousted Kennedy Center president says artists must feel "welcome and safe"
• Release Date: February 14, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of NPR's Consider This, the focus is on the unprecedented appointment of former President Donald Trump as the chairman of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the subsequent ousting of Deborah Rutter, the center's decade-long president. The episode delves into the ramifications of these changes on the cultural institution and the broader American arts scene.

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Donald Trump's Chairmanship of the Kennedy Center

The episode begins by highlighting Donald Trump's surprising move to become the chairman of the Kennedy Center. Details from the transcript reveal that Trump publicly criticized the center's programming before taking charge:

• Trump on Appointment: "I'm going to be chairman of it and we're going to make sure that it's good and it's not going to be woke." [00:18]

True to his assertion, Trump swiftly replaced 18 members of the Kennedy Center board with his supporters, culminating in his election as chairman:

• Trump on Board Takeover: "So we took over the Kennedy Center. We didn't like what they were showing and various other things." [00:33]

This move is unprecedented, as previous presidents, including Trump during his first term, maintained a hands-off approach with the center since its establishment in 1971.

• Trump's Vision: Posting on Truth Social, Trump declared, "We are going to make the Kennedy center in Washington, D.C. great again." [00:38]
• Critique of Current Culture: "There's no more woke in this country. This woke has cost us a fortune and cost us our reputation." [00:59]

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Impact on the Arts Community

Trump's takeover has already led to significant upheaval within the Kennedy Center. Notable figures in the arts have responded to the changes:

• Artist Departures: Renowned soprano Renee Fleming has stepped down as artistic advisor.

• Show Cancellations: Writer, director, and actor Issa Rae canceled her sold-out show, citing concerns over the institution's values.

• NPR Commentary: "Consider this. The Kennedy center hosts more than 2,000 performances that play to 2 million patrons every year. How will President Trump's new role as chairman shape a prominent American symbol of culture?" [01:06]

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Interview with Deborah Rutter

The episode features an exclusive interview with Deborah Rutter, the ousted president of the Kennedy Center, providing firsthand insight into her abrupt removal and its implications.

• Unexpected Ouster: Rutter recounted receiving a brief and direct phone call informing her of her ousting while she was with her executive assistant:

  • Rutter: "It was very short and direct was from somebody I'd worked with for many, many years." [02:33]

• Understanding the Move: Although surprised by the manner of her departure, Rutter had sensed forthcoming changes due to prior communications about an interim executive director.

• Kennedy Center's Significance: Rutter emphasized the center's national and international role:

  • Rutter: "The Kennedy center is, by congressional mandate, the National Cultural Center... It represents America to the world and it invites the world to our nation's capital to be a showcase for all of the arts." [03:15]

• Legality and Precedence: Addressing the legality of Trump's appointment, Rutter explained that the statutes and bylaws do not explicitly prevent such an action but noted its unprecedented nature:

  • Rutter: "It is absolutely clear in our bylaws that the board elects the Chairman of the board. So it is unprecedented for the Kennedy center to have the President of the United States as a member of the board." [04:23]

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Concerns for the Future of the Kennedy Center

Rutter expressed deep sadness over the changes and their potential impact on the arts community:

• Impact on Artists and Staff: "I'm really, really, really sad about what happens to our artists, what happens on our stages and our staff who support them." [05:02]

• Mission-Driven Work: She highlighted the dedication of artists to reflecting American society through their work and the potential stifling of this mission under the new leadership:

  • Rutter: "Artists are holding a mirror up to the society. They tell the stories of who we are." [05:53]

• Sustainability of Progress: Rutter voiced concern over maintaining the inclusivity and broad programming the Kennedy Center had achieved over the past decade:

  • Rutter: "How will we be able to sustain what we've done to really throw open the doors and make sure that the Kennedy center is not just welcoming everybody but seeing themselves and hearing their stories on our stages?" [07:18]

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Responses from the Arts Community

The episode highlights reactions from prominent artists following the leadership changes:

• Issa Rae's Cancellation: Actress and director Issa Rae canceled her upcoming performance, indicating dissatisfaction with the center's direction under Trump's chairmanship.

• Renee Fleming's Resignation: The celebrated soprano's departure signals discontent among top-tier artists affiliated with the Kennedy Center.

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Rutter's Perspective on Trump's Statements

When questioned about Trump's comments regarding the removal of "woke" content and anti-American propaganda, Rutter provided a defense of artistic freedom:

• Artistic Integrity: "Art speaks for itself. Art sometimes doesn't make you feel comfortable, but it is telling the story of who we are." [07:39]

• Inclusivity and Audience Growth: Rutter noted the increased diversity in the Kennedy Center's audience, attributing it to the inclusive programming that allowed more people to see themselves represented:

  • Rutter: "We have many, many more people coming to performances today because they see themselves welcome at the Kennedy Center." [07:39]

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Conclusion

The episode concludes by underscoring the critical role of the Kennedy Center as America's national cultural ambassador. Deborah Rutter's departure marks a significant turning point, raising questions about the future direction of the institution and its ability to remain a safe and welcoming space for artists from all backgrounds.

Rutter's heartfelt remarks encapsulate the tension between artistic freedom and political influence, highlighting the potential risks to the arts community when cultural institutions become entangled in partisan agendas.

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Produced by: Alaina Burnett and Mia Venkat
Edited by: Ashley Brown, Jeanette Woods, and Nadia Lancy
Executive Producer: Sami Yenigun

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For more insightful analyses and discussions, support NPR and explore Consider This+ at plus.npr.org/considerthis.

Transcript

[Unnamed Narrator]

President Donald Trump is now chairman of the Kennedy center for the Performing arts in Washington, D.C. prior to taking the helm, he told reporters he was doing it because Kennedy center shows were, quote, terrible and a disgrace. He also admits that he has never been to a show at the Kennedy Center.

[Donald Trump]

I'm going to be chairman of it and we're going to make sure that it's good and it's not going to be woke.

[Unnamed Narrator]

True to his word, he ousted 18 members of the Kennedy center board, replaced them with his own supporters. On Wednesday, the new board elected Trump chairman.

[Donald Trump]

So we took over the Kennedy Center. We didn't like what they were showing and various other things.

[Unnamed Narrator]

There is no precedent for this move. Most presidents have been hands off with the Cultural center since it opened in 1971. That includes President Trump himself during his first term. Now he seems all in posting on Truth Social that at his direction, quote, we are going to make the Kennedy center in Washington, D.C. great again.

[Donald Trump]

There's no more woke in this country. This woke has cost us a fortune and cost us our reputation.

[Unnamed Narrator]

Already artists affiliated with the center have departed and performers are canceling shows. Writer, director and actor Issa Rae canceled her upcoming sold out show at the center, citing an infringement on the values of the institution. Consider this. The Kennedy center hosts more than 2,000 performances that play to 2 million patrons every year. How will President Trump's new role as chairman shape a prominent American symbol of culture?

[Mary Louise Kelly]

From npr, I'm Mary Louise Kelly.

[Unnamed Advertiser]

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[Unnamed Narrator]

It's consider this. This from npr. For a decade, Deborah Rutter served as president of the Kennedy Center. This week, she was ousted from that position in her first interview since she came to our studios to talk about the abrupt end to her tenure. Deborah Rutter, welcome.

[Deborah Rutter]

Thank you so much.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

How abrupt was it? How did you find out all this was afoot?

[Deborah Rutter]

I was actually in the basement of the Kennedy center with my executive assistant and I got a phone call from a member of the board.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

And what was the, what was the phone call? What did they tell you and what was it?

[Deborah Rutter]

It was very short. It was very short and direct was from somebody I'd worked with for many, many years.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Did you have any idea this was coming?

[Deborah Rutter]

Well, I wasn't surprised. There had been communication saying that an interim executive director would be coming in to meet with me and to work alongside me. I read between the lines A little bit.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

The Kennedy center is prestigious. It's very well known. It is also one institution inside the beltway in Washington, D.C. why should the rest of the country, the rest of the world, care about who's in charge?

[Deborah Rutter]

So the Kennedy center is, by congressional mandate, the National Cultural Center. And we have a mandate from 1958 that calls for it to be the National Performing Arts center and the National Advocate for arts education. In 1964, they added the living memorial to John F. Kennedy. So this is more than just the local performing arts center. It represents America to the world and it invites the world to our nation's capital to be a showcase for all of the arts.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

To your knowledge, can President Trump do this? Is there any law, any statute that would prevent him from ousting the board? Ousting you?

[Deborah Rutter]

The statute establishes that a 36 member board and a 21 member ex officio board guide the operations of the Kennedy center and those three peers of our mission. Those 36 are appointed by the President of the United States to serve for a six year term. It is silent on whether or not the President can remove them. And it is absolutely clear in our bylaws that the board elects the Chairman of the board. So it is unprecedented for the Kennedy center to have the President of the United States as a member of the board. And it is therefore unprecedented that the board would elect that individual to be chair of the board.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Unprecedented. Not necessarily illegal or I can't speak.

[Deborah Rutter]

To that, but that is what the statute and our bylaws call for.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

I mean, just to cut to the chase, it's been, what, two days since you were ousted? How are you thinking about things?

[Deborah Rutter]

I'm really, really, really sad about what happens to our artists, what happens on our stages and our staff who support them. The Kennedy center is meant to be a beacon for the arts in all of America, across the country. And we have worked so hard and accomplished so much over this last decade to really broaden the programming, to invite all manner of arts and artists to our stages. And we've expanded our audience as a result. I pray that that can be sustained. But that's my biggest concern.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Yeah, you used the word sad just now. Why sad? What is it that is giving you pause?

[Deborah Rutter]

So people who choose to make their career in the arts do so because they care so deeply about what it represents. Artists are holding a mirror up to the society. They tell the stories of who we are. When you have really smart people, they often want to go into another business that might make them more money or more prestige, whatever that might be. These are people who are so dedicated to the mission and to really the desire to tell the stories of who we are as Americans. So this is mission driven work. And when you are deeply committed to the mission, that's where you have these emotions.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Renee Fleming, the famous soprano, has announced she is stepping down as artistic advisor. Yesterday I saw the actor and director Issa Rae says she is canceling what was supposed to be a sold out show at the Kennedy center next month. What is your advice to artists going forward? Should they come to the Kennedy Center? Should they perform?

[Deborah Rutter]

If they have the invitation and they know that the environment is safe for them to express their ideas and their art, Absolutely. Our National Cultural center needs and deserves to be the platform for artists of all sorts. But they have to feel welcome and safe.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

That prompts me to ask about a comment that President Trump made. As you know, he criticized the Kennedy center for being woke. He has also said, and I'm quoting, no more drag shows or other anti American propaganda. Only the best. Deborah Ruder, how do you understand those words? How do you react?

[Deborah Rutter]

I am a professional arts attendee. I am a believer in the work of the artist. I am not a propagandist. I am not a politician. Art speaks for itself. Art sometimes doesn't make you feel comfortable, but it is telling the story of who we are. And all artists, as all Americans, have the freedom of expression. I will tell you that we have many, many more people coming to performances today because they see themselves welcome at the Kennedy Center. And that is my concern. How will we be able to sustain what we've done to really throw open the doors and make sure that the Kennedy center is not just welcoming everybody but seeing themselves and hearing their stories on our stages? Oh, I used our I guess it is still our stage. It is. The Kennedy center is my cultural center as well.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Deborah Rutter, thank you.

[Deborah Rutter]

Thank you.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

She was president of the John F. Kennedy center for the Performing Arts for a decade. This is her first interview after being fired this week.

[Unnamed Narrator]

This episode was produced by Alaina Burnett and Mia Venkat. It was edited by Ashley Brown, Jeanette woods and Nadia Lancy. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. And I want to say thank you to our Consider THIS plus listeners who support the work of NPR journalists and help keep radio strong. Supporters also hear every episode without messages from sponsors. You can learn more at +npr.org. it's Consider this from NPR.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

I'm Mary Louise Kelly.