The renowned jazz ensemble, The Cookers, has announced their withdrawal from the “A Jazz New Year’s Eve” event. In a statement on their website, the group mentioned that the decision was made rapidly and expressed understanding for any disappointment from attendees who had anticipated their performance.
Similarly, the New York-based dance troupe, Doug Varone and Dancers, declared via Instagram that they would not participate in an April show. They stated their refusal to support what they described as a “once great institution” that no longer aligns with their values.
The changes come after a controversial decision by a board appointed by former President Donald Trump to rename the institution. Harper, a critic of the move, expressed strong opposition, stating that both the board and the new name reflect ideologies he has consistently opposed.
Richard Grenell, a Trump supporter who took charge of the Kennedy Centre following the dismissal of its former leaders, commented on X that the artists now canceling were initially booked under what he described as a “far-left leadership,” implying these arrangements occurred during the Biden administration.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Grenell argued that the cancellations demonstrate the artists’ unwillingness to perform for audiences that may hold differing political views. He further noted that the Kennedy Centre has received an influx of interest from artists who are eager to perform without making political statements.
There has been no official response from Kennedy Centre representatives regarding potential legal action against the artists who have recently canceled. Last week, following another artist’s withdrawal, Grenell indicated plans to sue for $1 million, claiming the act was a “political stunt.”
Not all artists are calling off their shows. Bluegrass banjoist Randy Barrett, scheduled to perform at the Kennedy Centre next month, told the AP he was “deeply troubled by the politicisation” of the venue and respected those who had canceled but feels that “our tribalised country needs more music and art, not less. It’s one of the few things that can bring us together.”
President John F Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and Congress passed a law the following year naming the centre as a living memorial to him. Scholars have said any changes to the building’s name would need congressional approval; the law explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from making the center into a memorial to anyone else, and from putting another person’s name on the building’s exterior.
