2016/17 2016/17 Our Impact p. 5 Our Programs & Festivals p. 35 Our Friends & Finances p. 51 Crowds outside the David H. Koch Theater, where three of the most revered ballet companies in the world—the Bolshoi Ballet, New York City Ballet, and Paris Opera Ballet—celebrated the 50th anniversary of George Balanchine’s Jewels with an unprecedented joint performance. Dear Friends: It has been an important year for the arts and for Lincoln Center. We are living through a moment when discord seems far more common than harmony, and when one of the few things that people across the political spectrum can agree on is that our opportunities to agree have become more fraught and less frequent. Art, however, is the one lasting endeavor that allows us to transcend our differences to discover universal channels of communication, understanding, and joy. It is no surprise that through the arts, we can find our way closer to harmony. The way that art triumphs is the same way that people triumph: in the spirit of togetherness. Lincoln Center has wholly embraced that spirit over the past 12 months—from bringing together three of the world’s leading ballet companies to share the stage for the historic 50th anniversary of George Balanchine’s Jewels to our legal team working fastidiously to secure visas for the actors of While I Was Waiting, a play conceived and set in Syria. Both took place during this summer’s Lincoln Center Festival, which poignantly presents “art that knows no borders.” This is the positive momentum that we are seizing upon now to build a strategy for the future of Lincoln Center, which has been going especially strong since welcoming a new president in March. This undertaking has been particularly fortuitous thanks to all of the magnificent support that immediately poured in—from our own campus and Board to supportive New Yorkers and arts lovers worldwide—and continues to humble us as we chart our way forward. Our goals looking ahead are inspired by our successes in the past year. They include expanding our accessibility for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds through means as diverse as building upon our youth engagement programs to growing our digital outreach with both new technology and our increasing social media presence. It also means continuing to rally all 11 organizations on our campus to stand together as a unified Lincoln Center: a true leader in the performing arts in every sense of the word. This may sound ambitious, but looking at what we have already done in these past 12 months, there is no reason to think we can’t accomplish everything we set out to do—in the spirit of togetherness, in pursuit of harmony, and through the power of the arts. Sincerely, Katherine Farley Debora L. Spar Conductor Louis Langrée leads the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra Chair President in one of its spirited summer programs. 3 Our Impact The Young People’s Chorus of New York City joined the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, conductor Louis Langrée, and host Bernadette Peters for an inspiring opening to the 2017 Mostly Mozart Festival. 5 New Leadership On March 15, 2017, Lincoln Center welcomed Debora Spar as its 10th president. On November 16, 2016, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Board Chair Katherine Farley announced the selection of Debora L. Spar as the institution’s next president. Of the former president of Barnard College and Harvard Business School professor, Ms. Farley said: “Debora’s vision and experience in the arts, education, and business make her the ideal choice to lead Lincoln Center at this exciting time.” Lincoln Center welcomed Ms. Spar on March 15, 2017. 6 7 Arts for a New Generation During the 2016–17 season, over 24,000 people experienced world-class family programming with LC Kids. The return of competitive Double Dutch to Lincoln Center’s plazas was the centerpiece of this year’s Family Weekend, hosted by Lincoln Center Out of Doors and co-presented by Women of Color in the Arts (WOCA) in collaboration with National Double Dutch League.™ First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray and LC Kids joined the fun. Now in its second full season, LC Kids draws families to Lincoln Center to experience world-class theater and dance, plus free music and storytime programs at the David Rubenstein Atrium. 8 9 96 percent of students at our Arts Audition Boot Camp were accepted to a high school of their choice. Giving Teens a Big Break The Middle School Arts Audition Boot Camp, through a partnership between Lincoln Center Education and the New York City Department of Education, offers two weeks of intensive training in acting, voice, music, visual art, and dance. At Boot Camp, rising eighth graders in New York City public schools prepare for auditions to competitive performing arts high schools. 10 11 A Friendly Welcome Last year, over 2,500 people attended performances for young audiences on the autism spectrum. Last year, Lincoln Center Education commissioned Campfire, a sensory-friendly new work from the Trusty Sidekick Theater Company designed specifically for young audiences on the autism spectrum and their families. In addition, Lincoln Center’s pioneering Passport for the Arts program offered 37 performances during the 2016–17 season that were adapted for this audience. 12 13 Lincoln Center Education’s Bringing Arts into Summer Forum 2017 hosted educators from 24 states the Classroom and 12 countries. Every July, Lincoln Center Education welcomes educators and artists from around the world to our campus for Summer Forum, one of our signature professional development programs for arts educators. Participants engage in three weeks of intensive workshops, exclusive performances, and plenary sessions featuring internationally renowned speakers. 14 15 Free Performances All Year Over 246,000 people attended nearly 300 free events in 2016–17. Damrosch Park was at capacity for Bonnie Raitt’s free performance on the final night of Lincoln Center Out of Doors, a series that featured 69 free music, dance, and spoken word performances and events over three weeks during the summer. Also fulfilling Lincoln Center’s mission to bring the best of the arts to the widest possible audience, the David Rubenstein Atrium presents free programming year-round. 16 17 Dancing Together Over 45,000 dancers and revelers gathered around Damrosch Park’s open-air dance floor at Midsummer Night Swing. At the beginning of each summer, Damrosch Park is transformed into New York’s most spectacular open-air ballroom for Midsummer Night Swing. This dance party under the stars culminates in the Ambassador Prize Lindy Hop Dance Contest. Steven P. and Ellie S., pictured here, were this year’s champions. 18 19 Three of the world’s most iconic Exceptional ballet companies celebrated the 50th anniversary Artistic of Balanchine’s Jewels at Experiences Lincoln Center Festival. Lincoln Center Festival’s presentation of George Balanchine’s ballet masterpiece Jewels celebrated history by making history with a once-in-a-lifetime event. The Bolshoi Ballet, New York City Ballet, and Paris Opera Ballet shared the David H. Koch Theater stage, performing Jewels 50 years after its premiere. 20 21 Flutist Claire Chase became Honoring the 23rd recipient of the Excellence Avery Fisher Prize in April. The $100,000 Prize recognizes instrumental soloists and ensembles who demonstrate musical excellence, vision, and leadership. Previous winners of the Prize include cellist Yo-Yo Ma; pianists Emanuel Ax, André Watts, Yefim Bronfman, and Jeremy Denk; violinists Midori, Joshua Bell, and Gil Shaham; the Emerson String Quartet; and Kronos Quartet. The Prize is part of Avery Fisher’s exceptional legacy of arts philanthropy and support of Lincoln Center. This legacy also includes the $25,000 Avery Fisher Career Grants for young instrumentalists and ensembles. The Dover Quartet, pianist Haochen Zhang, and violinists Stephen Waarts and Chad Hoopes were the 2017 Career Grant recipients. 22 23 Boro-Linc welcomed Connecting with 10,290 people to free performances and exhibitions Communities in all 5 boroughs. Lincoln Center partners with community-based organizations to present artists in all five boroughs through Boro-Linc, which hosts live performances, workshops, and artist residencies for family audiences. In addition, Lincoln Center’s Cultural Innovation Fund, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, awarded grants to 12 cultural projects in the South Bronx and Central Brooklyn. 24 25 Live From Lincoln Center made Lincoln Center in the leap to the big screen with Falsettos, presented in 340 movie theaters Your Living Room in 48 states. and Beyond For many people, their first experience with the performing arts comes through our 17-time Emmy Award– winning broadcast series Live From Lincoln Center. Since its premiere in 1976, hundreds of millions of people have tuned in to the beloved PBS broadcasts. Last year, Live From Lincoln Center expanded its reach, bringing Lincoln Center Theater’s star-studded, Tony-nominated revival of Falsettos to cinemas across North America and to viewers on every continent except Antarctica via BroadwayHD.com, where it has consistently been the most-viewed show in their online subscription library. 26 27 Lincoln Center in Your Hands With nearly 13 million views on YouTube and Facebook, Lincoln Center’s online video traffic grew by 89 percent last year. Wherever you are, Lincoln Center makes it possible to experience the best of the performing arts through our deep digital video trove of full-length performances, highlight clips, and original video series. Lincoln Center Offstage features artists of different genres—such as American Songbook artist Olga Bell, pictured here—performing in untraditional venues across New York City. With Lincoln Center in 360° videos, viewers can be immersed in a performance or rehearsal.