Kennedy Center interim director Richard Grenell has been working on $72 million in debt through past leadership decisions, and is developing a “common sense” plan that will turn the center’s finances and “prosper again.”
“The Kennedy Center is America’s finest arts institution,” Grenell told Fox News Digital. “It deserves full public support and a solid balance sheet.”
A source familiar with the current financial situation at the Kennedy Center told Fox News Digital that he “has a budget to lose money.”
But Grenell brought in new Chief Financial Officer Donna Alduin. Donna Alduin is tasked with improving what she described as “diety.”
The Kennedy Center director encourages Republicans to attend, saying, “Everyone is welcome.”
Kennedy Center interim director Richard Grenell has been working on $72 million in debt through past leadership decisions, and is developing a “common sense” plan that will turn the center’s finances and “prosper again.” (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
“The Kennedy Center’s previous business plan was designed to leave the center red, and that’s exactly what it did,” Arduin told Fox News Digital. “Previous leadership had no choice but to pay employee salaries in the money that should be allocated for debt bookings.”
“The gross management mistakes created a disastrous situation where we were shocked by what we discovered,” Arduin told Fox News Digital.
In 2025, the Kennedy Center was operating on a budget of $234 million. Additionally, in 2023, the Kennedy Center’s operating deficit was $155.2 million, leaving the bottom line deficit of $7.2 million.
A source familiar with the numbers told Fox News Digital that the gap is filled with Kennedy Center funding dollars. $91 million from annual funding and $7 million from donation revenue.
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A source familiar with the leadership team’s planning told Fox News Digital that the plan will focus on removing debt, improving ticket sales and financing, and expanding the centre’s contributions.
Grenell told Sean Hannity earlier this month that “everyone is welcome” at the Kennedy Center. (Leon Neil/Getty Images)
Sources explained that the team will use the venue for profitable business events other than traditional shows and performance, and will begin offering alternative programming.
“There are many opportunities and we are pursuing all of them,” the source said.
Kennedy Center has two affiliates. National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera. The new leadership team is currently working on affiliate marketing and business plans to ensure greater donations and “more sustainability.”
The official donations totaled $163 million, but the new leadership Fox News Digital said it was “not suitable for the size of this institution.”
Under the final leadership team, the Kennedy Center built “The Reach,” an intimate theatre of Kennedy Center’s host concerts, comedy shows and poetry readings. There is also a restaurant.
However, a financial source told Fox News Digital that former leadership removed considerable debt to build the venue.
“We had no profitability plans for that,” the source explained, noting that the space has been “underutilized” so far, bringing in just $2 million a year.
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President Trump announced in January that he fired the theatre’s board of directors and was elected to chair the board by a new, hand-selected board. (Anna Money Maker/Getty Images)
“The best arts institutions in America are worth better,” Arduin said. “The new team has already written a responsible budget that will make us thrive again.”
She added: “We use common sense.”
President Trump announced in January that he fired the theatre’s board of directors and was elected to chair the board by a new, hand-selected board.
White House press chief Caroline Leavitt told the Wall Street Journal in January. “The Kennedy Center has learned the hard way that if you wake up, you’re broken. President Trump and his newly appointed board members are dedicated to thriving the Kennedy Center and rebuilding it into a highly respected institution.
Some groups who opposed the move decided to cancel the show at the centre.
The producer of Broadway’s “Hamilton” was pulled from a scheduled run next year.
“Our show cannot conscientiously participate in part of this new culture imposed on the Kennedy Center,” producer Jeffrey Seller said earlier this month.
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The show took place at the Kennedy Center during Trump’s first term.
Grenell told Sean Hannity earlier this month that “everyone is welcome” at the Kennedy Center.
“Look, the reality is that the Kennedy Center is open for business to everyone,” Grenell told Hannity. “We just want an arts centre that celebrates art. We want common sense art.”
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