MetroFocus: February 9, 2023

>>> TONIGHT, AMERICAN CITIES REBUILDING.

PAULA ZAHN IN CONVERSATION WITH THE LEADERS OF SOME OF THE METRO AREA'S TOP CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, LINCOLN CENTER, BALLET HISPANICO AND THE METROPOLITAN.

THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND HOW THE ARTS CAN HELP US MOVE FORWARD.

A "METROFOCUS" ARTS AND CULTURE SPECIAL STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪♪ >> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FIND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBURG AND BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JACK FORD.

WHEN COVID-19 FORCED THE CLOSURE OF ARTS AND CULTURAL ESTABLISHMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MANY OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS HAD TO PIVOT TO CONTINUE EDUCATING, ENTERTAINING AND INSPIRING AUDIENCES.

THE WNET GROUP, AS PART OF ITS AMERICAN CITIES REBUILDING SERIES, HOSTED AN IN-PERSON ROUNDTABLE WITH LEADERS FROM SOME OF THE METROPOLITAN AREA'S TOP CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS TO GET THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND POSSIBILITIES AHEAD.

THE SERIES WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY WELLS FARGO AND PSE&G.

TONIGHT, WE ARE HAPPY TO BRING YOU PART OF THE CONVERSATION, MODERATED BY PAULA ZAHN.

>> TONIGHT, I AM HERE WITH FOUR PILLARS OF THE NEW YORK METRO AREA'S ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY, ALL OF THEM ARE AT THE HELM OF SOME OF OUR LARGEST CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

THEY HAVE BEEN SUPREMELY OCCUPIED TRYING TO NAVIGATE LEADERSHIP OF THEIR ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THE LENS OF COVID-19 SINCE THE SPRING OF 2020.

JOINING ME NOW IS SHANTA THAKE, WHO IS THE CHIEF ARTISTIC OFFICER SINCE LAST FALL AT LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS WHERE SHE SPEARHEADS ALL ARTISTIC AND PROGRAMMING ACTIVITY.

SHE WAS AT THE PUBLIC THEATER PRIOR TO THIS JOB WHERE SHE OVERSAW THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, MOBILE UNIT, UNDER THE RADAR, JOE'S PUB, THE SHAKESPEARE INITIATIVE AND PUBLIC FORUM.

[ APPLAUSE ] JOHN SCHREIBER, THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, KNOWN AS NJ-PAC.

UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THEY CREATED A 22-STORY LUXURY PART BUILDING AND ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD A FILM STUDIO WITH LIONSGATE.

EDUARDO VILARO BECAME ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF HISPANICO IN 2009, BECOMING THE SECOND PERSON TO LEAD THE COMPANY SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1970.

CORRECT?

IN 2015, HE ADDED THE ROLE OF CEO TO HIS JOB DESCRIPTION AS WELL.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] AND DANIEL WEISS IS THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART SINCE 2017.

FOR TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THAT, HE WAS THE MUSEUM'S PRESIDENT.

HE IS AN AUTHOR, SCHOLAR OF ART HISTORY AND THE FORMER SEASONED LEADER OF BOTH HAVERFORD AND LAFAYETTE COLLEGES.

MOST RECENTLY, HE ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO STEP DOWN FROM THE MET IN JUNE OF 2023 WHEN HE WILL RETIRE.

IT WILL BE EXCITING TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS ON THE HORIZON AFTER YOUR RETIREMENT.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

[ APPLAUSE ] WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REBUILDING AMERICAN CITIES, WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT FACTORIES, SUBWAYS, INFRASTRUCTURE.

I'M CURIOUS COLLECTIVELY HOW YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT WHY THE ARTS SHOULD BE A PART OF THAT SAME CONVERSATION.

JOHN, SINCE YOU ARE CLOSEST TO ME, I WILL LET YOU TAKE IT.

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE ALL ANCHOR CULTURAL INSTITUTION.

IN NEWARK, AN UNDERSERVED CITY.

THE ARTS IS A CATALYST -- WE FOUND IT TO BE A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHEN THE GOVERNOR -- WHEN THE GOVERNOR THOUGHT ABOUT THE IDEA OF A MAJOR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN NEW JERSEY, HE SAID I WANT TO LOCATE IT IN NEWARK BECAUSE THE EXPONENTIAL VALUE OF HAVING A FACILITY LIKE THIS IN THE CITY IS GOING TO REAP TREMENDOUS BENEFITS.

HE SAVED ABOUT 17 ACRES AROUND THE ART CENTERS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

HE LEARNED THAT LESSON AS A STUDENT AT COLUMBIA IN THE LATE '50s WHEN LINCOLN CENTER WAS BEING BUILT AND THEY DIDN'T SAVE LAND AROUND IT.

HERE AT THE ARTS CENTER IN NEWARK, WE ARE BUILDING RESIDENTIAL, RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, EDUCATION COMMUNITY CENTERS ON THIS LAND THAT WAS SAVED IN THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THE IMAGINATION OF THE ARTS CENTER.

SO WE'RE BUILDING A NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT'S WHAT THE ARTS CAN DO.

THEY CAN GROW NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

>> THANKS, GOV.

>> HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A LONG TIME.

[ APPLAUSE ] YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN?

>> I THINK BEYOND ECONOMIC IMPACT, WHICH I THINK ANY OF US WHO HAVE THESE INSTITUTIONS CAN GO TO ANY RESTAURANT SURROUNDING OUR INSTITUTIONS AND REAP THE THANK YOUS FROM EVERYONE THAT'S WORKING AT EVERY ORGANIZATION SURROUNDING THE SPACE.

BUT I THINK THAT BEYOND THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME AS WE MAKE THE CASE FOR OUR CITIES AND FOR LIVE PERFORMANCE, THERE IS THIS THING THAT HAPPENS IN LIVE PERFORMANCE, IT'S A GREAT DESEGREGATIONIST ACT.

AS PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN MORE FURTHER ISOLATED IN THIS TIME AND ARE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME NOT JUST IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH HAPPENS, BUT IN THEIR OWN APARTMENT AND NOT LEAVING, SO THAT CASE TO COME OUT AND MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR, MEET PEOPLE FROM OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND BE ABLE TO REBUILD A CITY THAT DOESN'T LOOK JUST LIKE YOU, BUT LOOKS LIKE ALL OF NEW YORK, AND BE ABLE TO SEE THAT AND BE IN STORYTELLING SITUATIONS TOGETHER, NOT IN DEBATES TOGETHER, BUT EXPERIENCING THE BEST OF WHAT HUMANITY CAN CREATE TOGETHER, I THINK IS DEEPLY MEANINGFUL, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF THIS TIME.

JUST GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND INTO A DIFFERENT KIND OF CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER.

>> HAVE YOU FOUND THAT TO BE A HARD SELL?

OR HAVE YOUR IDEAS BEEN MET WITH ACCEPTANCE?

>> I HAVE NOT FOUND THAT TO BE A HARD SELL.

I THINK IT'S A MUCH EASIER SELL TO SAY, COME OUT AND SEE YOUR FAVORITE BAND, THAN COME OUT AND ENGAGE IN A MEANINGFUL POLITICAL DEBATE IN THIS COUNTRY.

I WOULD SAY IT'S BEEN REALLY REMARKABLE.

THE AUDIENCES WE HAVE SEEN, THE AGES, MULTI-GENERATIONAL AUDIENCES COMING TO THIS CAMPUS.

WE DID THIS ENORMOUS FREE FESTIVAL THIS SUMMER.

HUNDREDS OF ARTISTS AND SHOWS.

JUST SAW THE EFFECT OF OPENING UP THE DOOR AND GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ARTISTS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND THE AUDIENCES THEY BROUGHT IN.

IT REALLY, I THINK, REMINDED CERTAINLY ALL OF US WHY WE DO THIS WORK AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

AND I THINK ALLOWS US TO THINK INTO THE FUTURE WHAT'S REALLY POSSIBLE.

NOT JUST FOR LINCOLN CENTER BUT FOR NEW YORK CITY.

>> EDUARDO?

>> THANK YOU.

I THINK WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO IF WE DON'T BUILD IN THE ARTISTS, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN STARTED ABOUT CULTURAL RELEVANCE, ABOUT RACIAL INEQUITIES, IF WE DON'T.

BECAUSE IT IS IN THE ARTS WHERE WE CAN REALLY DEVELOP A DIALOGUE THAT ALLOWS US TO STAY AWAY FROM THE SOCIAL RHETORIC THAT'S GOING ON.

YOU WALK INTO ANY THEATER, YOU WALK INTO A DANCE PERFORMANCE, YOU HAVE TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND TRY TO GO INTO THE PERFORMANCE.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE THE ARTS WHEN WE REBUILD.

THE OTHER REASON WHY IT'S IMPERATIVE IS BECAUSE COMMUNITIES HAVE FOR MANY YEARS EXISTED BECAUSE OF THEIR ARTS, BECAUSE OF THEIR TRADITIONS.

NOT ONLY EXISTED, BUT THEY HAVE INNOVATED BECAUSE OF THAT.

THE KIDS IN THE STREETS WHO WERE VOGUING, NOW WE HAVE VOGUE AS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS.

HIP HOP ARTISTS.

I COULD GO DOWN.

THESE WERE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

SO IF WE DON'T HAVE THE ARTS, WHAT WE LOSE IS THE RICHNESS OF THE DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THINK MORE GRASS-ROOTS.

I KNOW BRICK AND MORTAR IS IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE IT AT BALLET HISPANICO ALSO.

BUT HOW WE'RE SERVING THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN NEED OF BELONGING AND IN NEED OF CONNECTION, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ARTS AS PART OF THIS REBUILD.

>> DAN, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH THE MET ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

IT'S QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.

WAS IT 7 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR?

>> PRIOR TO COVID, THERE WERE 7 MILLION A YEAR.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE SINCE THEN.

THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE DOING.

>> TALK TO US ABOUT THE ROLE THAT YOU THINK THE MET PLAYS IN THIS VIBRANT CULTURAL LIFE OF NEW YORK CITY.

>> I THINK THE COMMENTS THAT OTHER PANELISTS HAVE MADE ARE RIGHT ON POINT.

AS EDUARDO SAID, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THERE ARE -- IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE A MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS OF BUILDING COMMUNITY THAN BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AROUND THE CELEBRATION AND APPRECIATION OF WHAT MAKES US HUMAN, WHICH IS WHAT THE ARTS ARE ALL ABOUT.

IF ONE REFLECTS ON HOW DO WE BUILD COMMUNITY, WHY DO WE LIVE IN CITIES, MOST OF US DON'T LIVE IN CITIES BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO GET TO WORK.

WE LIVE IN CITIES BECAUSE WE WANT SOMETHING ABOUT COMMUNITY.

AS A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT, IF WE REFLECT ON WHAT THE CITY WOULD BE LIKE, THIS GLEAMING, MAGNIFICENT CITY, IF IT DIDN'T HAVE ART AND CULTURE, NO ONE WOULD WANT TO LIVE HERE.

THAT WAS THE MOTIVATING -- PEOPLE WENT TO PARIS AND SAW THE LOUVRE AND THOUGHT, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

WE NEED ONE OF THOSE.

NEW YORK IN THE 1860s WAS FULL OF BURGEONING ECONOMY BUT NOT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAVE A CULTURAL LIFE.

THE MET HELPED TO REMIND US OF THE CENTRALITY OF THE ARTS TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I WILL SAY ONE MORE THING ABOUT THAT.

WHAT COVID HELPED US UNDERSTAND WAS HOW VITAL AND IMPORTANT THAT IS.

WHEN WE CLOSED, BOY, DID PEOPLE MISS ALL OF OUR PLACES.

WHEN WE REOPENED, THEY HAD A NEWFOUND APPRECIATION FOR WHY THESE PLACES MEAN SO MUCH.

ALL OF US WILL PROBABLY SAY TONIGHT THAT OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE STRONGER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE, BECAUSE WE LEARNED THAT.

WE HAVE BUILT ON THAT.

>> DAN, YOU TALKED ABOUT MAYBE IT WAS HARD TO IMAGINE WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE MOST CHALLENGING DAYS OF COVID THAT YOUR INSTITUTION WOULD END UP BEING STRONGER BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING IT HAD TO GO THROUGH.

HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU THINK HAS ACCRUED AS A RESULT OF THAT.

>> I THINK AT THE CENTER OF THAT WAS REFLECTION ABOUT OUR MISSION.

HOW DO WE FULFILL OUR MISSION AT A TIME OF MAXIMUM CHALLENGE?

BEING CLOSED, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW DO WE REACH PEOPLE AND CONNECT THEM TO OUR COLLECTIONS AND OUR PROGRAMS?

IT REQUIRED US TO DIG DOWN A LITTLE BIT DEEPER AND REFLECT ON DELIVERING SOMETHING THAT IS NOT EASY TO DELIVER.

OUR STAFF, WHO ARE BRILLIANT, WERE COMMITTED IN SO MANY WAYS TO THINK AROUND THAT PROBLEM.

>> TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DIVERSITY AND EQUITY FRONT.

>> THERE, TOO, I THINK THAT WAS -- WE KNOW WHAT A TERRIBLE MOMENT THAT WAS IN AMERICA AS WE SAW THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND BRIANA TAYLOR AND ALL THAT FOLLOWED.

I RECOGNIZED -- I GIVE MYSELF CREDIT FOR THIS -- THAT THIS WAS A HUGE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

EVERYONE AT THE MET AND EVERY OTHER INSTITUTION I HAVE WORKED HAS SAID IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO ADVANCE THESE GOALS, THIS WOULD BE GREAT.

WE HAVE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE DO FIRST.

WE CAN GET TO THAT.

NO LONGER WAS THAT THE CASE.

IT WAS SO PRESENT FOR US.

WE NEEDED TO JUMP START SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARE AS OLD AS OUR COUNTRY, TO CONNECT AUDIENCES AND TO TREAT PEOPLE MORE EQUITABLY.

WE PUT TOGETHER COMMITMENTS.

I THOUGHT TEN SOUNDED RIGHT.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE 13.

BECAUSE I FELT SO STRONGLY WE NEEDED TO JUMP START THE INITIATIVES RIGHT NOW, THOUGHT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

I SAID, IF WE DON'T FULFILL THESE AT THE END OF THE FIRST YEAR, I SHOULD BE FIRED.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A RHETORICAL GESTURE, BUT I MEANT IT.

BEFORE EVERYBODY GETS BACK TO BUSINESS WHERE THEY HAD BEEN BEFORE, OUR INSTITUTION WILL CHANGE.

IF WE HAVE JUST TRAJECTORY AROUND CHANGE, THEN THE NEXT SET OF OBJECTIVES, AFTER THE COMMITMENTS, WILL HELP US TO SUSTAIN AND INTEGRATE ALL THOSE INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE INSTITUTION.

THAT HAPPENED.

WE HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED SINCE.

WE ARE A POLARIZED COUNTRY ON THESE ISSUES LIKE WE WERE EVERYTHING ELSE.

THAT WINDOW WAS A DREADFUL TIME BUT ALSO WAS A VERY INTERESTING, RICH OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO REFLECT ON WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT'S PLURALISTIC AND HOW DO WE DO BETTER.

>> EDUARDO, I SAW YOU TRY TO JUMP IN.

AS SOMEONE WHO RUNS A LATIN X ORGANIZATION, TALK TO US ABOUT THE ROLE YOU THINK BALLET HISPANICO SHOULD BE PLAYING.

>> I THINK WHAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS THE FLIP SIDE OF THIS, FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S A DANCE COMPANY, THE PANDEMIC WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY.

WE WERE BEING SEEN MORE, SADLY.

SO WE WERE BEING ASKED TO BE AT THE TABLE AND LEAD THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW TO BE BETTER ABOUT THE DIVERSITY ISSUE, WHICH WAS -- WE HAVE BEEN HERE ALL THIS TIME, 52 YEARS.

NOW YOU ASK ME?

THAT IN ITSELF IS INTERESTING.

I WANTED TO BRING THAT IN.

SOMETIMES WE LOOK AT THINGS FROM ONE PERSPECTIVE.

SO FOR US, IT WAS REALLY ABOUT TAKING THE REIGNS AND SAYING, YES, WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT.

THIS INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION THAT WAS STARTED BY TINA RAMIREZ, WHO WE LOST IN SEPTEMBER, HAS PROVIDED THIS COMMUNITY -- ALL COMMUNITIES, EVEN IN NEW YORK CITY -- NOT EVEN, BUT IN NEW YORK CITY, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS WHO DON'T SEE THEMSELVES FIT INTO THE BALLET WORLD, WHO DON'T SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE WORK.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS AS WE TRIPLED OUR AUDIENCE ONLINE, WHICH -- YOU TRY TO THINK OF AS A SMALL ORGANIZATION.

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

SADLY, THE PANDEMIC GAVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY AND DEVELOPED THOSE ROLES.

AS WE MOVE ON, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THE TABLE AND NOW WE HAVE TO SET THE TABLE.

SO THAT IS WHAT BALLET HISPANICO IS GOING TO BE A LEADER IN THIS -- IN THE DISCUSSIONS OF HOW -- WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AS LATIN X PEOPLE AND IN THE CITY.

ALSO, HOW WE MOVE THAT DISCUSSION BEYOND JUST OUR DOORS.

HOW DO WE INVITE EVERYONE TO BE PART OF THAT CULTURAL DIALOGUE?

>> JOHN, THAT'S A THING THAT YOU HAVE WRESTLED WITH.

HOW TO KEEP THE WORK YOU ARE DOING RELEVANT.

HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO TARGET RIGHT NOW TO MAKE YOUR INSTITUTIONS PLACES FOR EVERYBODY.

>> ONE HAS TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THAT IN ORDER TO SUCCEED.

WE HAVE AN EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT REACHES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KIDS AND FAMILIES EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UNIT THAT DOES 250 FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT GREATER NEWARK EVERY SEASON.

WE HAVE ADVISORY COUNCILS AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS DIFFERENT CATEGORIES INTERNALLY.

WE HAVE ERGs.

WE HAVE TO KEEP ASKING.

WE HAVE TO KEEP LISTENING.

BY DOING THAT, WE ARE ABLE TO CREATE INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE TRULY USEFUL AND MEANINGFUL TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.

>> SHANTA, I SEE YOU NODDING IN AGREEMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EVERYTHING THAT JOHN SAID I THINK RESONATES SO MUCH IN TERMS OF THOSE DEEP CONVERSATIONS AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING -- I THINK, FINDING -- IF YOU DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHO YOUR AUDIENCE IS, YOU CAN MAKE A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS AND TARGET THOSE ASSUMPTIONS.

INSTEAD, I THINK BEING IN MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE ABOUT JUST MAKING THE TABLE WIDER, MAKING IT BIGGER, HAVING MORE PEOPLE, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT FEEL AT HOME AT LINCOLN CENTER.

THEN THERE ARE MILLIONS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE NEVER STEPPED FOOT ON CAMPUS.

HOW CAN WE HOLD ON TO THE FOLKS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED US THROUGH THE TOUGHEST OF TIMES?

AND ALSO SAY, DON'T YOU WANT THE REST OF NEW YORK TO HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE HERE?

THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS YES.

OF COURSE, OUR SUPPORTERS, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE WALKED ALONG LINCOLN CENTER WANT TO SEE THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF THE ARTS, OF LINCOLN CENTER, THIS CULTURAL BEACON THRIVE.

THEY WANT THAT FOR THEIR CITY.

I THINK JUST BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A SPACE THAT REALLY -- IT DOES BELONG TO NEW YORK CITY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IT MEANS WE HAVE TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PERFORMANCES WE HAVE, WHO IS CURRENTLY NOT COMING ON CAMPUS AND HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO OPEN THOSE DOORS AND THEN MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE AN EXPERIENCE THAT FEELS LIKE IT ELEVATES THEIR EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN NEW YORK AND THAT THEY FEEL A PART OF THIS GREAT CITY AND NOT SEPARATE FROM.

WE REALLY ARE COMMITTED TO CHANGING WHO FEELS WELCOME AT LINCOLN CENTER.

THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT ARE DISCOMFORTED BY THAT.

THAT'S OKAY.

DISCOMFORT IS PART OF THE WORK, TOO.

I THINK -- I'M EXCITED BY IT.

I THINK ANY TIME YOU CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND BEGIN TO UNPACK FOR PEOPLE WHY THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE AT LINCOLN CENTER AND WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO EXTEND THAT TO OTHER PEOPLE IS A GREAT CONVERSATION TO BE IN.

SO I REALLY -- I FEEL LIKE WHEN I'M MOST SUCCESSFUL, THAT'S THE KIND OF CONVERSATION I'M IN.

I LOVE IT.

I LOVE IT.

BUT I DEFINITELY AM IN IT A LOT.

IT'S FASCINATING TO ME.

I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY PART OF THE JOB.

BUT IT'S VERY FULFILLING.

I THINK FOR EVERYONE THAT IS SORT OF MOVING THROUGH THAT DISCOMFORT, I'M SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVE OUT OF DISCOMFORT AND FEEL COMFORTABLE AT LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING.

IT'S PART OF THE WORK.

IT CHANGES ALL THE TIME.

THE COMMUNITY IS CHANGING ALL THE TIME.

THE CONVERSATION CHANGING ALL THE TIME.

WE GET TO BE A PART OF THAT AND REALLY TRY -- I THINK IN TERMS OF REBUILDING THE HOUSE, THIS IS WHEN YOU STARTED BALLET FROM THE BEGINNING, YOU REALLY ARE THINKING THROUGH, WHAT'S THE STORY I NEED TO TELL RIGHT NOW?

YOU PULL THE PEOPLE TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE TO DO THIS -- CREATE A NEW THING.

IT'S SO OVERWHELMING.

THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE'RE ALL IN ALL THE TIME.

YOU JUST KNOW THAT SOMETIMES WHAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE.

YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING TO GET THERE.

IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL FIELD TO BE WORKING IN ALL THE TIME.

>> I SEE A LOT OF NODDING IN AGREEMENT HERE.

JOHN, YOU JUMP IN.

I KNOW EDUARDO AND DAN HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD.

>> MAJOR PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTIONS, THERE'S A FEELING AMONG CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT IS NOT UNUSUAL THAT IS, THIS IS NOT A PLACE FOR ME.

THIS IS NOT A PLACE THAT IS WELCOMING TO ME.

RIGHT?

OUR JOB EVERY DAY IS TO DISPROVE THAT.

THIS IS A PLACE FOR YOU.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A HEIGHTENED EXPERIENCE, YOU ARE GOING TO BE AMONG PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW.

YOU WILL HAVE A LIFE ENHANCING OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL BETTER AND TO FEEL DIFFERENT.

OUR JOB IS TO ELIMINATE THOSE BARRIERS THAT EXIST AMONG FOLKS WHO DON'T FEEL LIKE INSTITUTIONS LIKE OURS ARE WELCOMING.

WHEN I THINK OF LINCOLN CENTER, IT WAS A TREMENDOUS AND CONTINUES TO BE A TREMENDOUS WAY TO BRING THE CITY TOGETHER.

WE DO SIMILAR STUFF AT THE ARTS CENTER.

WE HAVE CONCERTS IN THE SUMMER WHERE SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE WILL JOIN A CROSS-SECTION OF FOLKS ENJOYING EACH OTHER AND ENJOYING THE ENTERTAINMENT AND THE CULTURE.

THIS IS HOW WE ARE UNIQUELY PLACED AS CULTURALS.

WE ARE ALL THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THAT THESE DAYS, I THINK.

>> DAN?

>> I WOULD ADD, THAT I THINK WHAT MAKES THE ARTS AND CULTURE SO VIBRANT AND INTERESTING IS IT IS SOMETIMES CHALLENGING.

I WOULD DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WELCOMING PEOPLE AND MAKING THEM COMFORTABLE.

IF WE CAN HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, WE WANT YOU HERE, AND YOU WILL BE CHALLENGED.

IT'S HOW WE LEARN AND SEE THINGS THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND AND THAT'S NEW TO US.

THAT'S THE GALVANIZING PROCESS OF ENGAGING WITH THE ARTS IN NEW AND EXCITING WAYS.

THAT'S IMPORTANT RATHER THAN HAVING PEOPLE FEEL, I'M GOING TO COME.

I NEED TO BE WELCOME AND COMFORTABLE AND SEE STUFF I LIKE.

THE MET IS CHANGING THAT IN ALL KINDS OF WAY.

IT'S PERFECTLY OKAY TO HAVE A VOICE AND FIND THINGS OBJECTIONABLE.

THAT'S HOW WE LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

>> EDUARDO?

>> YES, I'M LISTENING TO ALL THESE GREAT MINDS.

I LOVE THAT YOU CALL THIS CULTURALS.

I'M SEEING A WHOLE OUTFIT FOR US.

>> A SNEAKER LINE.

>> A MOVIE WITH MARVEL.

JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT.

WE ARE BEING CREATIVE.

AGAIN, I'M AN ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT FOR US IT'S ABOUT DEFENDING THE COMMUNITY IN WAYS OF GIVING THEM ACCESS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE OR DON'T FEEL THAT AN INSTITUTION THAT DOESN'T INVITE THEM IN, GIVE THEM THAT.

RIGHT?

SO WE HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK OF ACCESS.

IN PARTICULAR WITH EDUCATION.

WE STILL RAISE THE VOICES OF THE NEED FOR ARTS EDUCATION, ARTS -- JUST ARTS, PERIOD, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN OUR SCHOOLS.

SO WE CONTINUE TO BE THAT BRIDGE.

SOMETIMES I -- WE ARE ON TOUR CURRENTLY.

SO WE GO INTO THESE MANY COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A YOUNG CHILD SEES SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE THEM ON STAGE.

THAT'S THE POWER.

THAT'S THE POWERFUL TOOL OF REPRESENTATION AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US.

SO FOR BALLET HISPANICO, IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT COMFORT.

IT'S ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER, THE DISCOMFORT THAT SOMEONE MIGHT FEEL IN A WORK THAT WE DO THAT MIGHT POINT A DISCREPANCY OUT OR THAT MIGHT NOT BE SO -- THAT'S OUR WORK.

OUR ARTISTIC WORK IS TO PUSH THE CONVERSATION FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A BROWN ORGANIZATION.

>> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE COUPLE MINUTES WE HAVE LEFT TO EXPRESS ON A PERSONAL LEVEL WHAT IT HAS BEEN LIKE FOR YOU TO BE PART OF THIS RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY.

I THINK YOU HAVE SOME OF THE MOST WONDERFUL JOBS THAT ANYONE COULD EVER HAVE.

IT MUST BE SUCH A PRIVILEGE FOR ALL OF YOU.

I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO JUMP IN FIRST.

>> I WILL START JUST BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY -- TO ME, THAT'S THE WORD.

IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO BE IN THIS SPOT, THERE THIS SPACE, LINCOLN CENTER AT THIS TIME.

THIS REAL OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT A CITY IN NEED, THIS MOMENT OF BEING ON THE BRINK OF WHATEVER COMES NEXT.

I TELL MY STAFF, I TELL ANY STUDENT GROUP I'M WITH, KEEP A JOURNAL.

THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE RIGHT NOW ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE LANDSCAPE OF THE ARTS IN AMERICA.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN OVERSTATEMENT.

SO WE TAKE THEM VERY SERIOUSLY.

WE DO THEM IN COMMUNITY WITH ONE ANOTHER.

WE DO THEM UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE TO BE HUMBLED BY THIS RESPONSIBILITY.

IT IS SO -- IT'S SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S SUCH AN INCREDIBLE CITY.

WHAT EMERGES, I THINK, WILL LIVE IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE ARTISTS THAT ARE CREATING RIGHT NOW.

IF WE CAN GET OUT OF OUR OWN WAY, GET OUT OF THEIR WAY AND TURN OVER THE STAGE IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THAT WORK TO REALLY SHINE AND FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES TO REALLY BE REFLECTED IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, WE REALLY CAN CREATE A NEW KIND OF CITY THAT WE WILL ALL BE -- HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF STAKE IN.

>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE