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John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (officially known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. It was named in 1964 as a memorial to assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Opened on September 8, 1971, the center hosts many different genres of performance art, such as theater, dance, orchestras, jazz, pop, psychedelic, and folk music.

"Kennedy Center" redirects here. For the spaceport, see Kennedy Space Center.

Address

2700 F Street, NW

Washington, D.C., United States

38°53′45″N 77°03′21″W / 38.8957°N 77.0559°W / 38.8957; -77.0559

Washington Metro
at Foggy Bottom–GWU
Bus transport Metrobus

United States government

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
David Rubenstein, Chairman
Deborah Rutter, President

Performing arts center

Concert Hall: 2,465
Eisenhower Theater: 1,161
Family Theater: 320
Jazz Club: 160
Millennium Stage: 235
Opera House: 2,347
Terrace Theater: 490
Theater Lab: 398

December 2, 1964

September 8, 1971 (1971-09-08)

Edward Durell Stone

Severud Associates

John McShain

Authorized by the 1958 National Cultural Center Act of Congress,[1] which requires that its programming be sustained through private funds, the center represents a public–private partnership. Its activities include educational and outreach initiatives, almost entirely funded through ticket sales and gifts from individuals, corporations, and private foundations.


The original building, designed by architect Edward Durell Stone,[1] was constructed by Philadelphia contractor John McShain, and is administered as a bureau of the Smithsonian Institution. An earlier design proposal called for a more curvy, spaceship-inspired building similar to how the Watergate complex appears today.[2] An extension to the Durell Stone Building was designed by Steven Holl and opened in 2019. The center receives annual federal funding to pay for building maintenance and operation.

Justice Forum is a 144 seat lecture hall located at The Reach. Intended for film screenings, presentations, and ensembles this space is equipped with projection screens and the seats have a table arm for note-taking,

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Millennium Stage. with 235 seats. Part of the concept of "Performing Arts for Everyone" launched by Chairman in the winter of 1997, the Millennium Stage provides free performances at 6:00 pm Wednesday through Saturday on two specially created stages at either end of the Grand Foyer. A Millennium Stage film is shown at 3:00 pm on Sundays. A broad range of art forms are featured on the Millennium Stage. These include performing artists and groups from all 50 states and an Artist-in-Residence program featuring artists performing several evenings in a month. Every show on the Millennium Stage is available as a simulcast of the live show at 6:00 pm, and is archived for later viewing via the Kennedy Center's website.

James Johnson

River Pavilion is a 268 capacity flexible interior space located at The Reach. Complete with a cafe this space offers brilliant views of the Potomac River. A wall of windows allows for natural sunlight and views of the reflecting pools and the Presidential Grove of Ginkgo trees.

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Room PT-109 is a meeting space at The Reach with a capacity for 85. Great for meetings, dinners and conference breakout sessions. This space overlooks the reflecting pool.

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Skylight Pavilion Located at The Reach and with capacity for 425 this vaulted ceiling space offers expansive views of the river and hosts events, receptions and dinners under the multiple glass skylights.

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Studio F is large multipurpose rehearsal room located at The Reach. This space is larger than Studio J with a capacity of 164. Equipped with ballet barres and mirrors this space can be a green room, rehearsal space, breakout room or used for a reception or dinner.

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Studio J is a multipurpose rehearsal room located at The Reach. This space is complete with ballet barres mirrors. Suitable for a green room, meeting space, reception, or dinner. This space has a capacity of 50.

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Studio K is the largest multipurpose room at The Reach. With a capacity of 350 this space contains a viewing balcony and can be used for a variety of events, performances, theater, or break-out sessions. It is now home to the Kennedy Center Jazz Club.

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The Family Theater, with 320 seats, opened December 9, 2005. It replaced the former American Film Institute Theater located adjacent to the Hall of States. Designed by the architectural firm Richter Cornbrooks Gribble, Inc. of Baltimore, the new theater incorporates a computerized rigging system; and a digital video projection system.

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The Terrace Gallery. On March 12, 2003, the space formerly known as the Education Resource Center was officially designated the Terrace Gallery.

The Terrace Theater, with 490 seats, was constructed on the roof terrace level in the late 1970s as a Bicentennial gift from the people of Japan to the United States. It is used for chamber music, ballet and contemporary dance, and theater. The theater was renovated between 2015 and 2019 to update finishes, systems and make the venue ADA compliant.[35]

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The Theater Lab, with 399 seats, currently houses the whodunit which has been playing continuously since August 1987.

Shear Madness

List of memorials to John F. Kennedy

List of theaters in Washington, D.C.

Architecture of Washington, D.C.

Official website

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts at Google Cultural Institute