Kennedy Center Halts Five-Decade Tradition of Free Public Tours
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is bringing an end to its free public tours, implementing a “temporary pause” effective Friday. According to an internal memo distributed by volunteer program director Brooks Boeke, tour guides have been instructed to stop reporting for duty until further notice. The program has operated continuously since the center opened in 1971, aside from a one-year hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Internal Directive Follows Media Profile and Staff Concerns
The suspension of the tours arrives in the wake of a New York Times article published on Monday that featured Sandy Weiswasser, an 87-year-old retired teacher who has served as a volunteer guide for 18 years. Prior to the circulation of the memo on Thursday, three volunteers expressed apprehension to a reporter that the institution would target the tour program in retribution. While Ms. Boeke copied director Matt Floca, security director Karles Jackson, and two volunteer program managers on the memo sent to the full volunteer corps, none of them responded to emailed requests for comment. When reached by phone, Ms. Boeke declined to offer further remarks beyond asking how the news was discovered.
Management Cites Campuswide Route Reviews Amid Leadership Shifts
A Kennedy Center spokesman, P.J. Elliott, provided an emailed statement noting that officials are conducting a review of campuswide tour routes to ensure optimal visitor experiences. The institution has undergone significant operational changes over the past year following actions by President Trump, who removed previous leadership, cut programming, and installed a handpicked board. Those shifts have led to the center losing approximately 90 percent of its staff and its entire paying audience, alongside a court order last month requiring the removal of the president’s name from the building front.
Board Nears Decision on Extended Closure and Major Renovations
Next month, the Kennedy Center board is expected to vote on whether to close the facility for a two-year renovation favored by the president, who has asserted the center languished under previous administrations and diversity policies. Despite the sharp decline in activity that led Ms. Weiswasser to describe the venue as a “black hole,” a small group of volunteer guides had continued showing up out of dedication to the institution. The program’s reduction is starkly evident from historical figures: Ms. Weiswasser was previously one of 140 volunteer guides delivering tours in 10 languages to as many as 400,000 annual visitors, whereas only five of more than a dozen guides showed up for her shift last week.
