Despite declining ticket sales, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has started renovations.

The center took to social media to show a new painting job and said, “President Trump has given the Kennedy Center $257 million to renovate and restore America’s Premiere Arts Institution to its glory. The work has begun! Today, we start refurbishing and re-painting the 200 iconic columns around the Kennedy Center with a new color – Site White.”

The news comes as Trump had proposed a budget for renovations back in May and said on numerous occasions that he planned to remodel the Kennedy Center because it was in a dire state.

It also comes as ticket sales continue to fall, with the Guardian reporting that the Stuttgart Ballet’s series at the Kennedy Opera House in October will only be sold “between 4 and 19 percent” based on reservations so far. Earlier this year, the New York Times reported that, according to data compiled by anonymous employees, “single-ticket sales were down roughly 50 percent in April and May, compared with the same period in 2024.” The report also noted that revenue was down 82 percent for theater and 57 percent for dance.

 

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