Kennedy Center Artistic Director Kevin Couch Quits Less Than Two Weeks After His Hiring Was Announced

Kevin Couch has resigned as artistic programming director at the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, a mere fortnight after his appointment was announced. Couch confirmed his departure to the press without providing a reason. The center's management has remained silent on the matter.

This exit underscores the ongoing instability at the Washington, D.C. institution, which has been mired in conflict since its controversial renaming. Originally established by Congress in 1964 as The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—a national memorial to the assassinated 35th president—the venue saw its name altered by a board appointed during the Trump administration. Legal experts frequently point to the original founding legislation, which states the "center shall be known as the John F. Kennedy Center," as grounds to challenge the change. The politicized rebrand has already triggered boycotts, leading artists such as composer Philip Glass and a touring production of "Hamilton" to cancel performances, thereby creating a deeply challenging environment for any programming executive.

Couch's sudden departure follows that of Jeffrey Finn, who departed in September 2025 after nearly a decade overseeing Broadway programming. The center's initial hiring release had lauded Couch's "visionary" approach and his twenty-year background in global talent booking. Prior to this role, he served as director of programming for ATG Entertainment, where he booked acts like pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter and comedian Nate Bargatze for venues in multiple U.S. markets.

Beyond his corporate experience, Couch possesses a significant background as a musician and personal manager. He has notably managed the touring career of the 1990s R&B group Color Me Badd, best known for their 1991 number-one hit "I Wanna Sex You Up." His direct performance experience includes working as a drummer for various acts and participating in the Vans Warped Tour. That festival, a traveling punk and alternative music extravaganza that ran from 1995 to 2019, was a cultural touchstone for youth culture and known for its grueling, carnival-like touring schedule. This blend of artistic and commercial insight seemed to position him well for the complex role.

The persistent turmoil surrounding the center's identity poses a unique and severe challenge for artistic leadership. "Programming a world-class performing arts season requires institutional stability and a clear artistic mission," noted Dr. Alisha Chen, a professor of arts administration at Georgetown University. "When the venue's very name is a daily subject of political and legal debate, it becomes extraordinarily difficult to secure top-tier talent and build coherent programming." Couch's brief and unexplained tenure may be a direct symptom of this untenable atmosphere, leaving the center to search for its third programming head in under six months and casting serious doubt on its immediate artistic trajectory.