The Kennedy Center, which was first established as the National Cultural Center in legislation passed by Congress in 1958, asserted that, even with the federal funding, it could run out of cash as soon as July. Hundreds of its employees — including those working in concessions, parking and retail — have already been furloughed to save money while the center is dark.

The musicians’ union said in a statement on Tuesday that to help ameliorate the strain on the center, it had agreed to make some economic concessions in its collective bargaining agreement. Those include a wage freeze in the 2020-21 season and delayed wage increases for the rest of their contract, the Kennedy Center said.

In total, the center said that the wage cuts and economic concessions will save $4 million.

Some staff at the National Symphony Orchestra who are not unionized will remain furloughed. A statement from the orchestra said that musicians had pledged at least $50,000 of their own money to help those staffers. The musicians urged the center to bring back those staffers to assist the orchestra in finding ways to bring music to the public right now.

“We need their talents to help start new musical projects to present to our patrons and the larger world,” the orchestra’s statement said.

The financial struggles at the Kennedy Center reflect what’s happening at cultural institutions of all sizes across the country, as all live arts programming has been canceled or postponed because of the pandemic. Artists’ unions have mobilized to try to ensure that actors, dancers, musicians and other kinds of arts workers won’t be left entirely without pay or health benefits during the national crisis.