One of America's most storied cultural institutions, the Kennedy Center, has arrived at a precipice that few landmarks of its stature ever reach — the edge of closure. In board resolutions released Monday, the Washington arts venue acknowledged financial and physical conditions so severe that only presidential intervention, it suggested, could forestall bankruptcy as soon as Tuesday. The moment asks a question that transcends any single institution: what obligations does a society carry toward the cultural spaces it has built to reflect its highest aspirations?
Kennedy Center warns of imminent bankruptcy, appeals to Trump for rescue
Potential closure would displace staff and eliminate cultural programming for audiences.