Petition Nears 100K Signatures Calling on Kennedy Center Donors to Suspend Funding

A petition organized by the advocacy group Qommittee in partnership with MoveOn has garnered nearly 100,000 signatures calling on major donors to suspend funding for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts until artistic independence is restored, according to the petition’s online tally.

The petition, titled “Stop Funding Censorship and Support Diverse Artists,” urges donors to “suspend funding until artistic independence is restored” and to redirect support to artists and communities that have faced bans or censorship under the current leadership.

| READ: Kennedy Center Board Votes to Rename Venue Trump-Kennedy Center |

Organizers say the petition represents a growing backlash among performers, audiences, and cultural workers who believe the Kennedy Center’s recent leadership changes have undermined its mission as a national cultural institution.

Organizers’ Message and Context

In a statement posted alongside the petition, Qommittee emphasized the role of donors in safeguarding artistic freedom.

“When donors fund censorship, they don’t just harm one institution — they tell marginalized communities their stories don’t deserve to be told,” the group said.

Qommittee’s petition frames its demand within broader concerns over programming decisions and alleged restrictions, including reported cancellations of shows and events that organizers view as emblematic of censorship or narrowed artistic scope.

Political and Institutional Backdrop

The petition and grassroots support for it are unfolding amid a high-profile political controversy over the Kennedy Center’s governance and artistic direction. In late 2025, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) launched a formal Senate investigation into financial management, cronyism, and governance practices at the center under its current leadership, which critics say has shifted priorities and decision-making processes.

Whitehouse, an ex officio board member of the Kennedy Center, has publicly stated that the institution’s new leadership’s “first instinct was to loot it for their own benefit and hire their friends and put people up in fancy rooms,” characterizing his findings from early stages of the inquiry.

The Kennedy Center’s president, Ric Grenell, has denied allegations of financial mismanagement and called the criticism partisan, asserting that his team has addressed longstanding budgetary issues and stabilized operations.

Broader Response and Impact

The controversy has coincided with artist cancellations, board resignations, and shifting donor dynamics, contributing to heightened scrutiny of the institution’s mission and leadership decisions.

The President previously said that he plans to eliminate drag shows and “woke” art at the venue, though admitted he has never actually seen a show at the institution. Shows have been cancelled, including the production “Finn” and the award-winning “Hamilton.” “Legally Blonde” has also been postponed.

Additionally, longtime member Jeffrey Finn, who has overseen programming at the Washington, D.C. venue since 2016, announced his departure from the venue earlier last year. This was the latest departure at The Kennedy Center after Trump took-over the venue, installed himself as chairman of the board, and replaced Rutter with loyalist Grenell as president.

The petition’s organizers argue that donors wield financial leverage that can influence institutional behavior, particularly when private funding constitutes a significant portion of the Kennedy Center’s operating budget.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the petition has reached 98,983 signatures. Read it in-full here.