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The
Kennedy Center announced in a Jan. 16 press release that Kevin
Couch would join the venue as senior vice president of artistic
programming. But he confirmed in an email on Thursday that he
resigned from the role on Wednesday without providing an
explanation for the development.
Representatives for the Kennedy Center did not immediately
comment on his departure. In the press release earlier this
month, Kennedy Center president Ric Grenell welcomed Couch to
the role “as we expand our commonsense programming.”
“Kevin brings a clear-eyed approach to curating a roster of
compelling shows that invite and inspire all audiences,” Grenell
said.
Couch's exit comes as the Kennedy Center navigates a wave of
artists canceling their performances there as a way to protest
the new leadership installed by President Donald Trump. Trump's
handpicked board of trustees added the Republican president's
name to the venue late last year.
In just the past week, composer Philip Glass called off a
scheduled world premiere at the Kennedy Center of a symphony
about Abraham Lincoln. Grammy-winning soprano Renée Fleming also
withdrew from two scheduled May appearances at the venue.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump are expected to walk the red
carpet at the Kennedy Center on Thursday for the premiere of “Melania,”
a documentary she produced about the 20 days leading up to his
return to the White House.
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