"Ask not what the Kennedy Center can do for you, ask what you can do for the Kennedy Center."
- Bill Turner, Saturday Tour Guide since 1988
About Us
From its inception in 1965 to its leap into the 21st century, the Friends of the Kennedy Center volunteers have provided invaluable service to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—eleven hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year. The Friends are a diverse, educated, and arts-loving group (as the results of a recent Friends survey show) who impart a wonderful spirit of volunteerism and selfless participation that make them a model for the entire country. The spirit of volunteerism is thriving at the Kennedy Center, proving that there are still many women and men who are willing to volunteer their time for the good of the community. In addition to the satisfaction of being able to contribute to this institution, our volunteers have a lot of fun as well!
Why Be a Friend?
"I cannot dance, they won't let me sing, and I don't play an instrument, but I do love the performing arts and thus my reason for becoming a volunteer."
- Irving Kelly
"As a couple recently moved to the Northern Virginia area, we were looking for an opportunity to volunteer in a community-oriented organization. We have always been so proud of our nation's center for the performing arts; and when we discovered that it was possible to become a Friends volunteer, we jumped at the chance! Thanks so much for having us!"
- Roy and Lynn O'Connor
Fabulous Benefits
Being a Friend of the Kennedy Center comes with its share of perks.
- Occasional ticket discounts and complementary ticket offers
- 30% discount at the KC Café
- 25% discount on all purchases in the Kennedy Center Gift Shops
- Use of the Kennedy Center employee canteen which offers a salad and sandwich bar, as well as reasonably-priced entrees
- $2.00 parking rate when volunteering or attending a performance at the Kennedy Center
- A subscription to FriendScript, our monthly newsletter
Requirements for Participation as an Active Friend
New volunteer orientations are held twice a year, generally in late March and September.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Must be willing to commit to one year as a Friends volunteer.
- Must be able to perform the required duties for preferred volunteer job.
- Must be willing to complete all aspects of the orientation/training cycle.
- Must be willing to commit to one weekly three- or four-hour shift of service.
Support the Friends
One way to find out more about the Friends—both the organization and its volunteers—is to buy one of our books.
Our book, Curtain Up on the Friends, A History of the Friends of the Kennedy Center Volunteers, offers the reader a rich history about the Friends since our inception in 1965.
Get two or more Friends together and watch what happens: productive volunteer work and a lot of conversation about cooking! Our second book,Cooking with Friends, is one of the best sellers in the Kennedy Center Gift Shops; each chapter highlights what the Friends do and provides great recipes as well.
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The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts