It seems on-brand that the Kennedy Center leadership both eliminated its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs and also decided to start booking non-Equity theater productions in its halls. The Kennedy Center did not become the nation’s premier performing arts center by disregarding calls for equity in the workplace, much less by sidelining Equity actors, the union representing professional actors. Artistic excellence depends on equity both on and off stage.
Booking Equity encompasses more than just the actors who are hired for performances. It extends backstage, including stagehands, audio and lighting technicians, administrative staff, and musicians. Equity shows have been a mainstay of Kennedy Center stages, not only because of their quality but because arts institutions recognize the importance of union representation. These actions also put Kennedy Center Unions in a corner.
Lowercase equity ensures that employers like the Kennedy Center respect and provide opportunities for all voices to be heard in the workplace. It also means addressing structural hurdles that have silenced certain voices in the past. These values are even more important as we look at how our institutions platform certain voices in the arts.
Equity in the workplace takes multiple forms, but a bedrock of ensuring equity and fairness in a workplace is recognition of unions. The Kennedy Center currently has approximately 19 unions representing musicians, technicians, and designers, but has yet to recognize the newly formed Kennedy Center United Arts Workers union for administrative staff at the Kennedy Center. In fact, KC leadership has shown its disdain for union solidarity. In August 2025, three dance program staff members were fired for their union organizing/ affiliation with unions. This is union-busting, clear and simple! When you fire the people who are curating artistic programming, you engage in censorship of the arts.
As KC leadership searches for answers to their plummeting ticket revenue woes, they may want to explore the impact that their actions around equity productions and unions at the Center have on people’s desire to spend their dollars on performances.
We should not stand by silently as the KC leadership guts union protections and representation at the Kennedy Center. Join us as we unite in a chorus of protest against these anti-union actions by KC leadership.
Leave a Reply