Kennedy Center Lays Off Social Impact Staffers Tasked With Reaching New And Diverse Audiences – Reports

deadline.com:

The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. has reportedly laid off as many as seven staffers of its Social Impact team, all but dismantling an initiative established in 2020 to “leverage the arts” to “advance justice and equity.” According to the Washington Post and NPR, the layoffs occurred Tuesday and included the artistic director of Social Impact Marc Bamuthi Joseph.

Three employees of the team whose work does not have an equity focus were retained, according to NPR. Deadline has reached out to the Kennedy Center for confirmation and comment.

In a letter obtained by NPR, a Kennedy Center human resources exec wrote to one of the laid off staffers that “the decision was made after careful consideration and is based on the Kennedy Center’s staffing needs.” The Kennedy Center website says its Social Impact programming “seeks to firmly establish the Center as a champion and resource for all communities and ensure our programs, artists, staff, and audiences reflect the full spectrum of America.

Multiculturalism is one of our nation’s greatest assets and has been the soul of our artistic output for generations. At the Kennedy Center, we strive for this every day.” Elsewhere the website states that “the Kennedy Center’s Social Impact philosophy and programming holds the institution’s vision for what it takes to creatively reflect our nation in all its gorgeous, imaginative multiplicity.” In a statement to NPR, Joseph, the now-former Artistic Director of Social Impact, said, “How do you access the American promise if you don’t have access to the impulse of creativity?