Musicians’ and Other Unions Respond to Trump’s Two-Year Shutdown of Kennedy Center

In Tuesday’s (2/3) Washington Post, Travis M. Andrews and Janay Kingsberry write, “Staffers at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts expect to continue their work until July 4 … After that—when the renovation unexpectedly announced Sunday by President Donald Trump could begin—the center will be in uncharted waters. Joan Bialek, chair of the National Symphony Orchestra’s board of directors, told musicians Tuesday morning that the organization will retain both the orchestra and its staff. Bialek said the Kennedy Center is obligated to find a performance space under its affiliation agreement with the orchestra, the only major ensemble still based at the arts complex following the departure of the Washington National Opera earlier this year. The orchestra is currently exploring outside venues…. Bialek and the orchestra’s executive director, Jean Davidson, had reassured board members, musicians and staff that the orchestra would continue to receive funding from the Kennedy Center … None of the unions associated with the Kennedy Center—including Actors’ Equity Association, the American Federation of Musicians, the American Guild of Musical Artists, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society—have heard from executives about the upcoming closure … The Kennedy Center Arts Workers United, an umbrella group that includes the unions active at the center, said … ‘Should we receive formal notice of a temporary suspension of Kennedy Center operations that displaces our members, we will enforce our contracts and exercise all our rights under the law.’ ”