Deborah Rutter Email & Phone Number

Creative leader. Artist advocate. Life-long learner. Amateur musician. These are a few of the ways you might describe me. I grew up in Southern California with parents who understood the value of a life rich in the arts, encouraging my interests in piano and violin. As a career arts administrator, I’ve had the joy of leading arts institutions across the country, and now make it my mission to ensure everyone—no matter where they’re from—can call art a part of their daily life. Now, it’s my privilege to serve as president of the Kennedy Center, where we prioritize using art for non-arts outcomes and focus our work on three community-driven pillars: representing the breadth of the American cultural experience on our stages, developing powerful arts education programs nationwide, and advancing the inspiring legacy of our namesake, President John F. Kennedy. I’m also an avid reader, and when I’m not at the 150 performances I attend each year you’ll probably find me gardening, playing the piano, enjoying a book or spending time with my daughter and family.