David M. Rubenstein to remain Kennedy Center Board Chair until 2026

David M. Rubenstein to remain Kennedy Center Board Chair until 2026

(WASHINGTON)-Kennedy Center Board Chairman David M. Rubenstein will exend his leadership of the nation's cultural center until September 2026. Rubenstein agreed to remain in the role after the national search for a new board chair, which began in May, took longer than expected. Subsequently, board leadership decided to pause the search and asked Rubenstein to continue in the role as the Center prepares for the 250th Anniversary of America and advances ongoing projects. Earlier this year Rubenstein announced his intention to step down from the board of trustees in January 2025 after a 14-year tenure. The board will resume a national search for Rubenstein's successor later next year.

Created by Congress in 1958, the Kennedy Center serves as the national cultural center for the United States and a living memorial to John F. Kennedy. Its trustees are a combination of presidential appointees and ex-officio leaders in government. President Joe Biden is expected to appoint 12 new board trustees prior to January 20, 2025.

A previous announcement indicated that Rubenstein, upon leaving the board, would assume the chairman role of a newly formed Kennedy Center Foundation in January 2025. Considering the extension of his Kennedy Center board chair term, the Center is working to identify a new Foundation chair. The Kennedy Center Foundation was established by the Center's Board of Trustees in January 2024 to focus on advancing national philanthropic support for the Kennedy Center.

About David M. Rubenstein

About David M. Rubenstein's Kennedy Center Chairmanship

Only the sixth chairman in the Kennedy Center's history, Rubenstein was elected board chairman in 2010 and re-elected each year since that time. Originally appointed to the Kennedy Center board by President George W. Bush, he has subsequently been reappointed by Presidents Obama and Biden.

A philanthropist, leader, and investor, Rubenstein has made an indelible imprint on the nation's cultural center. Under his leadership, the Center has evolved into one of the most interactive arts and cultural destinations in the country-a national model for artistic excellence, inclusivity, creativity, and arts education. In addition to hiring the Center's current president, Deborah F. Rutter, in 2014, cornerstones of his tenure include the building of the REACH (a 72,000-square-foot arts innovation annex), expansion of the Center's year-round programming to include hip hop and comedy, increased access to the arts for underrepresented communities, a renewed commitment to broadcast programming, and new amenities for the public to experience and interact with the living Presidential memorial to John F. Kennedy.

Beyond his extraordinary board leadership, Rubenstein's financial generosity is unsurpassed. At $111 million, he is the largest individual contributor to the Center in its 53-year history. In addition to his extraordinary personal giving, Rubenstein has had a profound impact on the Kennedy Center's fundraising operations and capacity, advocating for the public to support the Center as a vital American institution and bringing together leading corporations, partners, and foundations in support of the Center.

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