New York's Performa biennial postponed a new work by artist Lina Lapelytė, titled *The Speech (NYC)*, just one day before its scheduled debut because the planned venue, Federal Hall National Memorial, was closed due to the U.S. government shutdown. The piece involves 100 children making primal sounds and was to be performed on Wednesday at the historic site, which is operated by the National Park Service. Performa rescheduled the performance for November 17 and is seeking an alternative venue.
The postponement highlights how government shutdowns disrupt cultural programming, affecting not only Performa but also major institutions like the Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art. Lapelytė is a prominent artist who won the Golden Lion at the 2019 Venice Biennale for her opera with the Lithuanian Pavilion, making this delay significant for the biennial's lineup and for audiences anticipating her politically resonant work.