Deborah Rutter resigned as president last month, but she was not mean to go until the end of the year. However, in the past hour she said goodbye to her staff, leaving her office to Donald J Trump.
Here’s her parting message:
“The Kennedy Center stands unparalleled as our national cultural center and living memorial to President Kennedy’s legacy and ideals. To lead this organization is to witness its unending capacity to inspire through the power of the arts daily.
“The goal of the Kennedy Center has been to live up to our namesake, serving as a beacon for the world and ensuring our work reflects America. I depart my position proud of all we accomplished to meet that ambition. From the art on our stages to the students we have impacted in classrooms across America, everything we have done at the Kennedy Center has been about uplifting the human spirit in service of strengthening the culture of our great nation.
“I have been motivated my whole life by the fundamental values of America – freedom, equality, and a deep belief in the American dream. Core to our American experience is also artistic expression. Artists showcase the range of life’s emotions – the loftiest heights of joy and the depths of grievous despair. They hold a mirror up to the world – reflecting who we are and echoing our stories. The work of artists doesn’t always make us feel comfortable, but it sheds light on the truth.
“Much like our democracy itself, artistic expression must be nurtured, fostered, prioritized, and protected. It is not a passive endeavor; indeed, there is no clearer sign of American democracy at work than our artists, the work they produce, and audiences’ unalienable right to actively participate.
“For more than half a century, artistic growth at the Kennedy Center has been thanks to a dedicated professional staff, artists, and audiences’ eagerness to explore new ground together—with trust, respect, and joy.
“It has been the honor of my professional career to serve this great institution and all that it represents. There is no other place like it in the world.”
Trump said on his social channel:
It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees. We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!”
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