Lincoln Center to Launch New Family-Linc Program on 12/14

As part of its commitment to bring the programs of Lincoln Center to families in all five New York boroughs, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is launching Family-Linc, a program designed to encourage families with financial or other barriers to the arts to attend performances in dance, theater, orchestral music, and opera on a regular basis. In partnership with social service agencies across the city, Lincoln Center is offering prime orchestra-level seats at weekend performances by Lincoln Center constituent organizations at deeply discounted ticket prices ($10 each).

Lincoln Center will be working with the five Borough Presidents of New York and partnering with five social service agencies to identify families for the Family-Linc launch: Children's Aid Society, Safe Horizons, Bronx Fathers Taking Action, Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, and the Amsterdam Houses Tenant Association. The agencies will identify families for the program, provide staff members to accompany the families to Lincoln Center, and help ensure they have the support they need to attend the performances. More partner agencies will be brought into the program in 2015. The goal is to have 250 participating families from the five boroughs.
Noted Lincoln Center President Jed Bernstein, "Lincoln Center and its wonderful performances and programs belong to all the residents of New York City. Family-Linc is a way for city kids and their parents to experience the arts, to learn, and have a great time together as a family."

The first event takes place on Sunday, December 14, and will include a holiday reception for families at Lincoln Center Education (LCE), art activities, and a tour of the Lincoln Center campus. The group will then attend a 5 pm performance of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker by the New York City Ballet. 200 tickets will be distributed for the December 14 performance.

Family-Linc is funded by Shelly and George Lazarus. Shelly, a member of Lincoln Center's Board, said, "Lincoln Center is more welcoming than ever before. We are delighted to support Family-Linc, a wonderful new program that provides opportunities for lower-income families living in the five boroughs to visit Lincoln Center and enjoy live performances."

Following the December 14 launch event, the Family-Linc families will choose from a dozen Lincoln Center offerings from February through May 2015 for their next performance outing. Each visit to Lincoln Center will include "behind the scenes" experiences led by either LCE teaching artists or staff of the respective Lincoln Center constituent organization. In June, Family-Linc will conclude with a group picnic at Lincoln Center for all of the families, a culmination workshop at each of the social service organizations, and VIP passes to two of Lincoln Center's summer festivals: Midsummer Night Swing and Lincoln Center Out of Doors.

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