Lincoln Center Launches 'Boro-Linc', New Initiative Bringing the Arts to The Bronx

Lincoln Center, the world's largest performing arts center, announces a new program, Boro-Linc, which will offer special free family programs that aim to make the arts more accessible to underserved New Yorkers and increase family engagement in the arts. The new initiative will bring together constituents from across Lincoln Center to present a wide range of performances, workshops, activities and exhibits on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. from March 7 to June 13, with approximately 20 free family-friendly programs scheduled.

Through Boro-Linc, Lincoln Center brings its resident organizations' artists, offerings and vast resources off its Manhattan campus and into the community, with events taking place at the Bronx-based Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education, which for more than 80 years has offered programs to children and families in New York City. This pilot program will expand to all five boroughs next year.

"The Lincoln Center campus has always been about great art for everyone," said Jed Bernstein, President of Lincoln Center. "With this new program, Boro-Linc, we extend our programs and resources beyond our home on the Upper West Side, and move us closer to realizing the full breadth of Lincoln Center's founding vision. Boro-Linc will bring films, music, dance, opera and more from Lincoln Center's resident organizations great and talented artists to an important audience: children and families. We're grateful to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., the Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education, as well as the collective efforts of Lincoln Center's artists to launch this important new initiative."

Lincoln Center's Boro-Linc initiative was developed with the community in mind. While the organizations at Lincoln Center collectively present thousands of events each year, there are many New Yorkers who find it challenging to visit the campus's concert halls, theaters and performance spaces due to geographical or other barriers. This program will make more Lincoln Center programs accessible to fellow New Yorkers, and in the process, aim to develop a life-long love for the performing arts.

Between March 7 and June 13, 2015, the Boro-Linc program will present family-friendly events at Casita Maria's auditorium, gallery spaces and classrooms, culminating in a showcase featuring work created by the program's young participants and families. Lincoln Center Education, the education arm of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts will provide leadership, support and contribute additional programming.

The Lincoln Center organizations participating in Boro-Linc include: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Film Society of Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, Lincoln Center Education, The Metropolitan Opera and The Metropolitan Opera Guild, New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic, and the New York Public Library for the Performing Art, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center.

Events range in styles and age group, such as the New York Philharmonic's Very Young People's Concerts (for families with children ages 3-5), New York City Ballet's movement workshops (for families with children ages 4-12), films through the Film Society of Lincoln Center's CineKids program (for families with children ages 3-11), the Met Opera's Live in HD presentation of The Magic Flute, and Lincoln Center Education presenting Charlotte Blake Alston's storytelling performance Stories and Songs in the Oral Tradition.

Families will also have the opportunity to honor the history, diversity, and creativity of life in the Bronx by adding to the Boro-Linc Community Mural. The mural is a place for borough residents and visitors to engage with one another and reflect on the past, present, and future of their community through visual art.

A full schedule of events can be found here: LincolnCenter.org/BoroLinc

About Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts - 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, Great Performers, Lincoln Center Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, 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.

About Lincoln Center Education - Lincoln Center Education (LCE) is a global leader in arts education and advocacy and the education cornerstone of Lincoln Center, the world's largest performing arts complex. LCE is committed to enriching the lives of students, educators, and lifelong learners by providing opportunities for engagement with the highest-quality arts on the stage, in the classroom, via digital platforms, and within the community. Founded in 1975 as the Lincoln Center Institute, LCE has nearly four decades of unparalleled school and community partnerships, professional development workshops, consulting services, and its very own repertory. LCE has reached more than 20 million students, teachers, school administrators, parents, community members, teaching artists, pre-service teachers, university professors, and artists in New York City, across the nation and around the world. LincolnCenterEducation.org

About Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education - Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is an 80-year old South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization that presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages. Its mission is to empower youth and their families by creating a culture of learning through high quality social, cultural, and educational opportunities. www.casitamaria.org

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