The Washington Post is seeking an enterprising, deeply curious reporter to cover the intersection of arts and government at a pivotal moment for the nation’s cultural institutions.

This is a distinctive and high-impact beat focused on the country’s most prominent arts organizations — including the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian museums, the Library of Congress and the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities — and how they are being shaped by policy decisions and political forces. The reporter will chronicle how the Trump administration is influencing cultural institutions, and how those shifts reverberate through the arts, public life and national identity.

We are looking for a journalist who thrives on breaking news and driving original reporting, while also producing ambitious enterprise and narrative work. The ideal candidate will bring a passion for the arts, a strong instinct for accountability reporting and a keen eye for the personalities, conflicts and cultural currents shaping this moment. This is a busy and complex beat that requires both speed and depth — a reporter who can move quickly on developments while also stepping back to explain their broader significance.

This role sits within Features but will intersect frequently with politics, policy and national reporting, requiring close collaboration across the newsroom. It is based in our Washington, D.C., newsroom. 

What Motivates You: 

• You are fascinated by how culture and power intersect — and how institutions shape national identity. 

• You are driven to break news and uncover the forces reshaping major arts organizations. 

• You enjoy moving between daily reporting and deeper, narrative storytelling. 

• You are curious about the people, conflicts and ideas driving change in the arts world. 

• You are collaborative and eager to work across desks to elevate coverage. 

How You’ll Support the Mission: 

• Break news on major developments within the nation’s leading arts institutions. 

• Deliver ambitious news, analysis and enterprise stories shaped by original reporting, trend-spotting and fresh insight. 

• Develop and maintain sources across cultural institutions, government agencies and the broader arts ecosystem. 

• Track and explain how policy decisions and political dynamics are reshaping arts organizations and cultural priorities. 

• Produce narrative and feature stories that capture the human impact of institutional and cultural change. 

• Report and write quickly as events unfold, while also pursuing longer-term enterprise and accountability work. 

• Collaborate with visual journalists, designers and editors to produce compelling, multi-format storytelling. 

The Skills and Experiences You Bring: 

• A track record of delivering exclusive news and impactful enterprise reporting. 

• Demonstrated ability to report and write breaking news with speed, clarity and precision. 

• Strong source-building skills and the ability to cultivate relationships across complex institutions. 

• A passion for the arts and a clear interest in how culture intersects with politics and public life. 

• Experience or interest in working with visual storytelling and collaborating across disciplines. 

• Ability to work both on deadline and on longer-term narrative projects. 

• A commitment to fair, accurate and rigorous reporting, upholding the highest standards of journalism ethics. 

• Experience covering arts institutions or demonstrated ability to quickly build expertise and sourcing on a new beat is a plus. 

Interested candidates should upload a cover letter, résumé and three examples of their work (as PDFs) to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by Apr. 15 will be prioritized. The cover letter should be addressed to Deputy Features Editor Ellen McCarthy and Features Editor Amanda Finnegan. 

The salary range for this position is $97,400 - $162,300. The actual salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.