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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 national cultural center of the [[United States]], located on the eastern bank of the [[Potomac River]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] It was named in 1964 as a memorial to [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|assassinated President]] [[John F. Kennedy]]. Opened on September 8, 1971, the center hosts many different genres of performance art, such as theater, dance, classical music, [[jazz]], pop, [[Psychedelic music|psychedelic]], and [[folk music]]. It is the official residence of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.
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 national cultural center of the [[United States]], located on the eastern bank of the [[Potomac River]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] It was named in 1964 as a memorial to [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|assassinated President]] [[John F. Kennedy]]. Opened on September 8, 1971, the center hosts many different genres of performance art, such as theater, dance, classical music, [[jazz]], pop, [[Psychedelic music|psychedelic]], and [[folk music]]. It is the official residence of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.


Authorized by the 1958 National Cultural Center Act of Congress,<ref name=sbccstw>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tL9eAAAAIBAJ&pg=2328%2C3245154 |newspaper=[[Lewiston Morning Tribune]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=U.S. capital seeks to build culture center |date=October 21, 1962 |page=2}}</ref> 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.
Authorized by the 1958 National Cultural Center Act of Congress,<ref name=sbccstw>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tL9eAAAAIBAJ&pg=2328%2C3245154 |newspaper=[[Lewiston Morning Tribune]] |agency=Associated Press |title=U.S. capital seeks to build culture center |date=October 21, 1962 |page=2}}</ref> 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 {{nowrap|[[Edward Durell Stone]],<ref name=sbccstw/>}} 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.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://ghostsofdc.org/2022/03/02/kennedy-center-looked-like/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303165411/https://ghostsofdc.org/2022/03/02/kennedy-center-looked-like/| url-status=dead| archive-date=March 3, 2022| title=The Kennedy Center Could Have Looked Like This| last=Tom| date=February 24, 2014| website=Ghosts of DC| language=en-US| access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> 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.
The original building, designed by architect {{nowrap|[[Edward Durell Stone]],<ref name=sbccstw/>}} 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.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://ghostsofdc.org/2022/03/02/kennedy-center-looked-like/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303165411/https://ghostsofdc.org/2022/03/02/kennedy-center-looked-like/| url-status=dead| archive-date=March 3, 2022| title=The Kennedy Center Could Have Looked Like This| last=Tom| date=February 24, 2014| website=Ghosts of DC| language=en-US| access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> 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.
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===Artwork===
===Artwork===
The plaza entrance of the Kennedy Center features two [[Wikt:tableau|tableaus]] by German sculptor [[:de:Jürgen Weber (Bildhauer)|Jürgen Weber]]; created between 1965 and 1971, which were a gift to the Kennedy Center from the [[West German]] government. Near the north end of the plaza is a display of nude figures in scenes representing [[war and peace]], called ''War or Peace''. The piece, {{convert|8|×|50|×|1.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}, depicts five scenes showing the symbolism of war and peace: a war scene, murder, family, and creativity.<ref name="SOS">{{cite web |year=1994 |title=War or Peace, (sculpture) |work=Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |url=http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!322453~!0#focus |access-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref> At the south end is ''America'' which represents Weber's image of America (8 × 50 × 1.5&nbsp;ft.). Four scenes are depicted representing threats to liberty, technology, foreign aid and survival, and free speech.<ref name="SOS2" /> It took the artist four years to sculpt the two reliefs in plaster, creating 200 castings, and another two years for the foundry in [[Berlin]] to cast the pieces. In 1994, the [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s [[Save Outdoor Sculpture!]] program surveyed ''War or Peace'' and ''America'' and described them as being well maintained.<ref name="SOS" /><ref name="SOS2">{{cite web |year=1994 |title=America, (sculpture) |work=Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |url=http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!322452~!0#focus |access-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref> Another sculpture ''[[Don Quixote (Teno)|Don Quixote]]'' by Aurelio Teno occupies a site near the northeast corner of the building. [[King Juan Carlos I]] and [[Queen Sofia of Spain]] gave the sculpture to the United States for its [[United States Bicentennial|Bicentennial]], June 3, 1976.<ref name=SHJ>{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 9, 1976 |title=Kennedy Unit to Get King's Gift |newspaper=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VEEsAAAAIBAJ&pg=4641%2C1619537 |access-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref>
The plaza entrance of the Kennedy Center features two [[Wikt:tableau|tableaus]] by German sculptor [[:de:Jürgen Weber (Bildhauer)|Jürgen Weber]]; created between 1965 and 1971, which were a gift to the Kennedy Center from the [[West German]] government. Near the north end of the plaza is a display of nude figures in scenes representing [[war and peace]], called ''War or Peace''. The piece, {{convert|8|×|50|×|1.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}, depicts five scenes showing the symbolism of war and peace: a war scene, murder, family, and creativity.<ref name="SOS">{{cite web |year=1994 |title=War or Peace, (sculpture) |work=Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |url=http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!322453~!0#focus |access-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref> At the south end is ''America'' which represents Weber's image of America (8 × 50 × 1.5&nbsp;ft.). Four scenes are depicted representing threats to liberty, technology, foreign aid and survival, and free speech.<ref name="SOS2" /> It took the artist four years to sculpt the two reliefs in plaster, creating 200 castings, and another two years for the foundry in [[Berlin]] to cast the pieces. In 1994, the [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s [[Save Outdoor Sculpture!]] program surveyed ''War or Peace'' and ''America'' and described them as being well maintained.<ref name="SOS" /><ref name="SOS2">{{cite web |year=1994 |title=America, (sculpture) |work=Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |url=http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!322452~!0#focus |access-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref> Another sculpture ''[[Don Quixote (Teno)|Don Quixote]]'' by Aurelio Teno occupies a site near the northeast corner of the building. [[King Juan Carlos I]] and [[Queen Sofia of Spain]] gave the sculpture to the United States for its [[United States Bicentennial|Bicentennial]], June 3, 1976.<ref name=SHJ>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=May 9, 1976 |title=Kennedy Unit to Get King's Gift |newspaper=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VEEsAAAAIBAJ&pg=4641%2C1619537 |access-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref>


==Venues==
==Venues==
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