Reynold Levy to Step Down as Lincoln Center President in 2013

Reynold Levy, President of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts since March 2002, will step down on December 31, 2013, after an 11-year tenure in which he ushered in a new era at Lincoln Center, announced Lincoln Center Chair Katherine Farley. Mr. Levy led the $1.2 billion critically-acclaimed physical transformation of the 16-acre campus to a successful conclusion, on time and on budget. Under Mr. Levy's leadership, both audience and community engagement have been expanded by utilizing innovative digital initiatives, free programming and new indoor and outdoor facilities. Altogether, more than $1.3 billion in contributed funds have been raised for Lincoln Center during Mr. Levy's tenure. He also developed new sources of revenue and produced an unbroken record of balanced and surplus budgets to fuel the operation of the world's largest, and America's first, performing arts center.

Much of Lincoln Center's own programming has been expanded and revitalized under Mr. Levy's leadership, including the Mostly Mozart Festival, American Songbook, Lincoln Center Festival, the White Light Festival, the Lincoln Center Dialogue, Midsummer Night Swing, Lincoln Center Out of Doors and a wide-ranging public art program.

"Reynold has led Lincoln Center for over a decade, and in that time he has transformed Lincoln Center-physically, economically and programmatically. His far reaching contributions include leading the world's largest renovation project of any performing arts center, a global expansion of Lincoln Center's cultural reach, the establishment of a consulting business and extensive outreach to underserved populations," said Ms. Farley.

"Though we will all miss Ren both personally and professionally, I am confident that this extraordinary, reinvigorated campus, the artistic and organizational initiatives that have been cemented under Reynold's stewardship and the exceptional management team that he has assembled will ensure that Lincoln Center is poised for continuing success far into the future."

A letter was formally submitted to Katherine Farley, and a search committee under Ms. Farley's leadership has been formed. Mr. Levy's decision comes after previously extending his contract twice at the request of the Board of Trustees.