Craving a deep dive into the arts? The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center is your place. It stands tall at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza. This library isn’t just books. It’s a treasure trove of performance history.
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is one of NYPL’s renowned research libraries. It houses one of the world’s most extensive research collections. These collections cover theater film dance music and recorded sound. The library also provides circulating and reference materials.
Imagine this place started small. In 1932 Carleton Sprague Smith wanted a dedicated music center. Dance and sound recordings were part of the Music Division back then. Smith’s idea finally took flight when Lincoln Center came to life. By December 1957 the library became an accepted component of Lincoln Center planning.
The building itself is quite unique. It shares space with the Vivian Beaumont Theater. The theater forms the building’s core. The library wraps around it. Gordon Bunshaft designed the interiors. Eero Saarinen consulted on the exteriors. The library opened to the public November 30 1965. It was called Library and Museum of the Performing Arts.
Did you know the library underwent a major renovation? From 1998 to 2001 it closed for a 38 million dollar upgrade. Dorothy and Lewis B Cullman contributed significantly. The library was then renamed in their honor. The renovation added computers and a technology training room.
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has unique research collections. These collections include archival material text manuscripts and music manuscripts. Dance notation scores prompt books and posters are also included. The library boasts about 4.5 million photographs.
The Music Division is the oldest. It stems from Joseph William Drexel’s private library. The Billy Rose Theatre Division is the largest. It began with David Belasco’s estate. The Jerome Robbins Dance Division started in 1944. It preserves dance history.
Looking for something specific? The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound holds a vast collection. It started with a gift from Columbia Records in 1937.
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts offers public programs. These programs take place in the Bruno Walter Auditorium. You can attend musical performances film screenings and lectures.
Today the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts stands as a beacon. It’s a place for scholars artists and anyone passionate about the arts. It preserves our performing arts heritage. It inspires future generations.