On November 13th, the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts officially announced the members of its Emerging Artists cohort for 2020. The annual class sources its members from the Lincoln Center’s 11 resident organizations and recognizes the incredible talent and potential that the rising stars bring to New York City’s artistic community. Over the past several decades, the Emerging Artist award has highlighted over a hundred promising artists from a broad span of disciplines. This year’s cohort includes singers, composers, dancers, musicians, and filmmakers alike — all of whom were individually nominated by the Lincoln Center’s artistic leadership.
The soon-to-be-awardees will receive their honors and an additional $7,500 in career development prize money at a gala, which will be held at Alice Tully Hall on Wednesday, February 26th. Many of the recipients will perform during the celebration, and all will be present during the festivities.
The celebration is more than a party for the Lincoln Center’s leadership. As Henry Timms, President and CEO of the Lincoln Center for the Performance Arts, commented for an article published in Broadway World, “The arts are fundamental to our world, and it is Lincoln Center’s responsibility to support the voices of diverse, fearless, and extraordinary artists.”
This year’s gala will be co-hosted by the Lincoln Center Awards’ current presenting sponsor, the Movado Group Foundation. The Foundation is the charitable arm of the eponymous American watchmaking firm. The organization provides considerable financial support to the Lincoln Center’s artistic efforts and will additionally give each award recipient a Movado watch.
The Emerging Artist awards won’t be the only accolades delivered at the gala. Two recipients will also accept the Martin E. Segal Award, which has spotlighted two exceptionally talented rising artists every year since 1986. Another artist will receive the Hunt Family Award, which is traditionally awarded to the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts’ Emerging Artist nominee.
The upcoming gala has two intentions — first, to recognize the accomplishments of the Lincoln Center’s artistic community, and second, to celebrate the five decades that the organization has provided support to its 11 constituent organizations. The money raised from the event will go to support the emerging artists’ future productions, support new artistic programming, and allow the Lincoln Center to host free performances on its campus.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the February 26th event are currently available on the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund’s website. These funding slots are available at several price points. Levels include the Friend Ticket ($1,500), the Award Underwriter ($7,500), the Supporter ($15,000), the Benefactor ($25,000), and the Gold Sponsor ($50,000). According to the Fund’s website, over 450 corporate organizations currently enjoy the benefits of sponsorship. These include but are not limited to: “use of Lincoln Center’s premiere ticketing concierge service; invitations to donor events and open rehearsals; listing in the Annual Report, website, and all Lincoln Center Playbills.”
The gala will undoubtedly be something to look forward to — both for the celebration itself, and what it represents for New York’s artistic community.
Below, find a full list of the 2020 Award recipients and their nominating organizations.
Lileana Blain-Cruz
Lincoln Center Theater
Stella Chen
The Juilliard School
Tessa Clark
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Hunt Family Award
Emily D’Angelo
The Metropolitan Opera
Ruby Lister
School of American Ballet
Martin E. Segal Award
Sebastian Manz
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Riley Mulherkar
Jazz at Lincoln Center
Martin E. Segal Award
Akosua Adoma Owusu
Film at Lincoln Center
Unity Phelan
New York City Ballet
Ellen Reid
New York Philharmonic
Jennifer Ashley Tepper
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts