Josef Palermo, an artist and former curator at the Kennedy Center, sat down with NPR’s Michel Martin on Sunday, June 8, to discuss what he saw during his tenure at the Washington venue — and what he thinks comes next for one of the country’s most prominent performing arts institutions.
The interview, aired on NPR, didn’t offer reassurances. Palermo spoke from the perspective of someone who worked inside the Center, which has faced mounting scrutiny since the Trump administration moved to reshape its leadership and programming priorities earlier this year.
Palermo’s specific concerns weren’t detailed in the broadcast summary, but the conversation centered on the Kennedy Center’s direction under its current leadership — a subject that has drawn attention from artists, presenters, and arts advocates who worry about what programming may look like going forward.
NPR hasn’t released a full transcript of the Martin-Palermo exchange. The Kennedy Center hasn’t publicly responded to Palermo’s remarks.
Originally reported by NPR (npr.org). Read the original report.
