Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Expands Family Programs

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts held a highly successful Spring Fling on May 9, with approximately 7,500 people enjoying free performances, craft projects, and fun and games as the "opening day" for the expanded family offerings on the Lincoln Center campus. It also launched the enhanced LC Kids program, which includes more membership options, new family programming, and special events designed for kids.

"'Great art for all' isn't just a slogan. It is our call to action," said Jed Bernstein, Lincoln Center President. "What we are doing is reaching out to families of all income levels and across all the boroughs of New York, with programs and performances that will enhance young lives, help them in school, and help build the next generation of arts lovers."

Beyond the expansion of LC Kids, new LCPA initiatives as Family-Linc and Boro-Linc, and the new family website Kids.LincolnCenter.org, complement the performances for children that are offered by such resident organizations as the New York Philharmonic, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and New York City Ballet.

LC Kids is a program that makes the joy and endless possibilities found in the performing arts accessible to children and their families. Through curated family programming, special events, and behind the scenes opportunities, LC Kids promotes and encourages lifelong enjoyment of and participation in the arts. There is a variety of membership levels from $125 to $3,000, as well as FREE access.

The new family website Kids.LincolnCenter.org has campus-wide information about family-friendly performances and practical information about coming to Lincoln Center with a child.

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Upcoming LC Kids events:

Saturday, June 13 at 11:00

Charlotte Blake Alston

Clark Studio Theater, 165 West 65th Street, 7th floor

$18 for members, $25 for public

Recommended for ages 4+.

Internationally renowned master storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston mesmerizes audiences of all ages with selections from her wide repertoire of stories and songs from African and African-American oral traditions. Accompanied by traditional African music, Charlotte breathes spirit and life into these old and new tales to share the beliefs, mythology, cultural identity, history, and community values that have been taught and preserved for generations. Audience participation encouraged.

Saturday, July 11 from 2:30-4:00

Midsummer Night Swing

Dance Instructor: Rodney Lopez

Damrosch Park Bandshell, West 62nd Street between Columbus & Amsterdam Avenues

LC Kids Dance - FREE

Per website: Recommended for ages 6+.

Dancing Classrooms, the long-running program in New York's public schools, brings its legacy of changing students' lives via social dance to Lincoln Center. Dancers young and old will learn a few steps to waltz, swing, and foxtrot the afternoon away.

Saturday, July 18 at 11:00

Fantastic French Horn with The Cleveland Orchestra

Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse, 165 West 65th Street, 10th floor

$10 for members, $15 for public

Recommended for ages 6+.

This concert, planned in conjunction with the Lincoln Center Festival performances of Richard Strauss's Daphne opera-in-concert performed by The Cleveland Orchestra, will feature the French horn, Strauss's favorite instrument. The 30-minute performance (which includes a host, accompanist, and Cleveland Orchestra horn player Hans Clebsch) will be followed by a hands-on Instrument Discovery experience.

Saturday, August 1 at 11:00

Puppet-Building Workshop

Clark Studio Theater, 165 West 65th Street, 7th floor

$18 for members, $25 for public

Recommended for ages 8+.

A Lincoln Center Education (LCE) Puppet Workshop in conjunction with the Lincoln Center Festival performances of Ramona by the acclaimed puppet-theater troupe from the Republic of Georgia, the Gabriadze Theatre, includes a 15-minute meet-and-greet with puppets from Ramona. This will be followed by a puppet workshop, with puppeteer and storyteller Erin Orr, where children will build their own puppet.

Saturday, July 25: Family Day (all day)

Lincoln Center Out of Doors

FREE

Recommended for all ages.

10:00

Jaffe Drive/Toll Porte-cochère

Baby Loves Disco - A Family Dance Party

11:00

Josie Robertson Plaza

Lil Buck

12:00, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00

Jaffe Drive/Toll Porte-cochère

Bridgman|Packer Dance: Truck

3:00

Josie Robertson Plaza

Joyous Quartet

3:30

Josie Robertson Plaza

Heidi Latsky Dance

4:00

Josie Robertson Plaza

National Dance Day

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Family-Linc partners with social service organizations to provide tickets to performances at Lincoln Center for 250 families living at or below the poverty line in all five New York City boroughs, offering these families opportunities to experience the artistry of world-class artists and ensembles throughout the year.

Boro-Linc, launched in March 2015, leverages strategic partnerships between cultural and community organizations in New York's boroughs and Lincoln Center resident organizations in order to bring high quality arts education programming to parts of New York where children and adults currently have little access to the arts. Boro-Linc currently brings Lincoln Center to Casita Maria (928 Simpson Street) in the Bronx to present FREE live performances, workshops, and exhibitions.

Meet the Artist Saturdays is a FREE series at the David Rubenstein Atrium and follows in the tradition of Lincoln Center's acclaimed Meet the Artist School Series, which celebrated its 30th anniversary during the 2009-2010 school year. On the first Saturday of each month at 11:00 am, Meet the Artist brings its informal, interactive, one-hour presentations to the public. Continuing to present a wide range of performances by artists from a broad spectrum of disciplines, these Saturday morning shows are specially created for family appeal and are enjoyable for all ages.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) serves three primary roles: presenter of artistic programming, national leader in arts and education and community relations, and manager of the Lincoln Center campus. A presenter of more than 3,000 free and ticketed events, performances, tours, and educational activities annually, LCPA's series include American Songbook, Avery Fisher Career Grants, Free Thursdays at the David Rubenstein Atrium, Great Performers, Lincoln Center Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Martin E. Segal Awards, Midsummer Night Swing, Mostly Mozart Festival, White Light Festival, and the Emmy Award-winning Live From Lincoln Center. As manager of the Lincoln Center campus, LCPA provides support and services for the Lincoln Center complex and the 11 resident organizations: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Film Society of Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, Lincoln Center Theater, The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, the School of American Ballet, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In addition, LCPA led a series of major capital projects, now complete, on behalf of the resident organizations across the campus. For more information, visit lincolncenter.org or aboutlincolncenter.org.