Kennedy Center Shuts Down Social Impact Team Amid Leadership Changes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts laid off its Social Impact team on March 25, 2025, marking a significant change in its approach to community outreach and inclusivity.

The decision to dissolve the team, which focused on engaging local underserved communities and diversifying audiences through artistic initiatives, resulted in the termination of seven employees, including the team’s artistic director, Marc Bamuthi Joseph. Three other staff members whose roles were not focused on equity were retained.

In a letter to a laid-off employee, LaTa’Sha Bowens, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of human resources, stated, “This decision was made after careful consideration and is based on the Kennedy Center’s staffing needs.” The affected employee chose to remain anonymous due to concerns of retaliation.

Joseph voiced his disappointment, stating, “How do you access the American promise if you don’t have access to the impulse of creativity? As the nation’s cultural center, the Kennedy Center has an obligation to ask itself that question every day. Our work in Social Impact was to widen our cultural radius and to imagine that inspiration itself was a constitutional right afforded to all of this nation’s people.”

The layoffs come shortly after a significant leadership overhaul at the Kennedy Center, orchestrated by President Trump, who replaced board president Deborah Rutter, chairman David Rubenstein, and all Biden-appointed members of the board. This change in leadership has since sparked a wave of artistic resignations, including opera star Renée Fleming, who stepped down as artistic adviser.

Trump’s criticism of the Kennedy Center’s programming, which he labeled as “woke culture,” has raised concerns about the direction of the institution. The Social Impact initiatives, launched in July 2020, aimed to leverage the arts to advance justice and equity, facilitating collaboration with artists, offering free arts programming, and increasing access to cultural events across Washington, D.C.

A report released by the Kennedy Center indicated that the number of social impact events more than doubled from 2021 to 2023, and attendance increased from just over 10,000 to more than 65,000. The programming also attracted a more diverse audience compared to the Center’s traditional performances.

One current artist-in-residence expressed concern about the impact of these layoffs on the community, saying, “It feels like yet another small slap in the face of democracy. What they did best was laying this foundation for our democracy,” referring to the support given to underrepresented artists.

Despite the termination of the Social Impact team, other ongoing Kennedy Center programs, such as free family dance workshops and an initiative with World Pride, still aim to foster dialogue around social issues through the arts.

The Kennedy Center has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the future of its Social Impact programs, but the current climate suggests that significant changes may be on the horizon.