June 30, 2013
Call 311 or Visit NYC.gov for More Information on these Events and Many OthersIn honor of the summer season, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today outlined some of the free and low-cost, family-friendly cultural activities occurring throughout the five boroughs. There are countless opportunities for New Yorkers and visitors to experience the creativity that makes New York City a great place to live, work and visit. New York City offers hundreds of events, exhibits and performances that are free or low-cost to the public. Call 311 or visit NYC.gov for more information on these and other programs.
“Every summer, public spaces in all five boroughs host exhibitions, performances, movies and more that give New Yorkers and visitors the opportunity to access some of the most exciting work our remarkable creative community has to offer,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Our Administration is proud to work with arts groups and community partners to bring this summer programming – much of it at little or no cost – to audiences as diverse as the City itself.”
FESTIVALS AND CONCERTS
New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks
Since 1965, New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks have provided New Yorkers with an opportunity to hear the best classical music under the stars. This summer, Music Director Alan Gilbert leads four free outdoor concerts and the New York Philharmonic Brass gives a Free Indoor Concert at the College of Staten Island, CUNY.
Oval Lawn Series and Mad. Sq. Kids at Madison Square Park
The Madison Square Park Conservancy celebrates its 11th year hosting free outdoor concerts. The Mad. Sq. Music: Oval Lawn Series features acclaimed artists from jazz to blue grass to soul, and occurs Wednesday evenings through August 7 (times vary). Mad. Sq. Kids, a series of outdoor performances for children and families, takes place Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10:30 AM, through August 8. Madison Square Park, Manhattan. FREE.
River to River Festival
Each year, River to River presents work artists working across disciplines and responding to the architecture of some of New York City’s most iconic locations and hidden gems. From Dance, visual art, film, mixed media, literature, poetry, music, theatre and more, River To River includes over 150 events throughout Lower Manhattan and Governors Island. Through July 14. Times and locations vary. FREE.
Summer in the Square
Union Square’s Summer in the Square is back this year and bigger than ever. Union Square Partnership’s free weekly summer entertainment series is held Thursdays in Union Square Park from June 13 to August 15. The series offers a vibrant mixture of activities for everyone. This year, in partnership with Paragon Sports, start each morning with a heart-pumping fitness regime for all levels that includes a weekly running club, boot camp from Circuit of Change, and yoga classes from Jivamukti during Fitness in the Square from 7:00 – 9:00 AM. At 10:00 AM, Kids in the Square kicks off in the Pavilion with Yoga StoryTime with Karma Kids, followed by a rotating lineup of the hottest children’s performers and acts at 11:00 AM on the South Plaza of the park. At lunchtime, enjoy live jazz from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in the park’s Westside Seating Area. Finally, each Thursday will close at 6:00 PM with free dance lessons and performances by Peridance Capezio Center. Mark your calendar and join the free fun in Union Square Park this summer. A complete schedule of activities and performances is coming soon to www.unionsquarenyc.org. FREE.
Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series
This year, the Summer Recital Series returns with six performances in the parks of all five boroughs. FREE.
BAM presents R&B Festival at MetroTech
Now in its 19th year, the festival, presented by BAM, features R&B legends alongside vibrant newcomers with 10 free outdoor concerts. Thursdays (except Wednesday, July 3 performance) through August 8, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM. MetroTech Commons, Brooklyn. FREE.
Poppenhusen Institute presents July Summer Concert Series
Each Sunday in July, enjoy a concert in the garden of the Poppenhusen Institute. On Sunday, July 29, Rick St. James performs “A Rod Stewart Tribute.” College Point, Queens. Sundays in July at 4:00 PM (except July 7 performance, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM). Admission is $2 per person.
Summerstage: Free Summer Concerts in Parks Citywide
City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage will bring over 100 performances to eighteen parks throughout the five boroughs. Through August 29. For a complete listing visit www.cityparksfoundation.org. FREE.
Celebrate Brooklyn!
This year marks the 35th Anniversary of the dynamic concert series at the Prospect Park Bandshell presented by BRIC Arts | Media | BKLYN and featuring a diverse range of music, dance and film events. Through August 10. Select performances are listed below. Suggested admission is $3.
For a complete program listing visit www.bricartsmedia.org.
Lincoln Center out of Doors
Lincoln Center Out of Doors brings three weeks of world-class music, dance, and spoken word to the plazas of Lincoln Center. July 24 – August 11, exact times and locations vary, Manhattan. FREE.
Central Astoria Waterfront Concert Series
Central Astoria Local Development Coalition Inc. presents its annual Waterfront Concert Series Thursday evenings, including an evening of music with Motor City Revue: A Tribute to Motown on July 25. Thursdays, July 11 – August 15, Astoria Park Lawn, Queens. FREE.
On Stage at Kingsborough Hot Summer Nights Concert Series
Kingsborough Community College presents a series of summer concerts at its outdoor bandshell, with iconic views of the New York waterfront. Highlights include The Brooklyn Community Wind Ensemble on July 6 and The Hot Sardines on July 20. Through July 27, all events take place Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM. Kingsborough Outdoor Bandshell, 2001 Oriental Boulevard, Brooklyn. FREE.
Downtown Dance Festival
Battery Dance Company’s 32nd annual dance festival will feature 10 dance companies from New York City, Poland, Hungary and Malaysia at sites across Lower Manhattan. August 10-15, exact times and locations vary, Manhattan. FREE.
Harlem Week
Lasting quite a bit longer than seven days, Harlem Week features events throughout July and August that bring together local artists, cultural groups, and community stakeholders for a variety of screenings, performances, and events, including the Dance Theatre of Harlem Family Street Festival on August 3, 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM, West 152nd Street from Amsterdam to St. Nicholas Avenues, Manhattan. July 28 - August 24, times and locations vary. For a full listing of events visit www.harlemweek.com. Many events are FREE.
JAMS Under the Stars - Cultural Collaborative Jamaica
JAMS Under the Stars is an evening outdoor concert that kicks off the next day of festivities for the Jamaica Arts and Music Summer (JAMS) Festival. This year, JAMS Under the Stars will pay homage to the legacy of Soul Train and the musical legends of Jazz, RB, Rock and Funk. August 2, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Jamaica Avenue Between 150th and 153rd Street, Queens. FREE.
Performances in Parks Citywide
In addition to larger music festivals, the Parks Department is hosting dozens of artists to standalone performances all summer long. Some of the many concerts taking place include:
For a complete listing of events taking place in parks, visit www.nyc.gov/parks.
THEATER EVENTS
Summer on the Hudson: Children’s Performance Series
Music, storytelling & theater for young audiences. Suitable for kids up to age 7. Thursdays, July 11 – August 15, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM, Pier I in Riverside Park South, Manhattan. FREE.
Shakespeare in the Park
Now in its 59th year, The Public Theater’s popular program will present a new musical version of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost at the Delacorte Theater. July 23 - August 18, . FREE.
Shakespeare in the Parking Lot
The Drilling Company performs the works of Shakespeare on the black top. This year’s season opens with Cymbeline from July 11 to 27. In honor of the discovery of the bones of King Richard III in an English parking lot earlier this year, Richard III will be performed August 1-17. Performances start at 8:00 PM, Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Ludlow and Broome Streets, Manhattan. FREE.
Theatreworks USA
Theatreworks USA is celebrating 25 years of its Free Summer Theatre Program to provide youth and their families with performances that entertain and educate. This summer, they will distribute more than 15,000 free tickets to their production of The Civil War, a musical that illuminates this defining moment in American history. 1-3 shows per day from July 15 to August 16, except Saturdays. Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street, Manhattan. FREE.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORATION PROGRAMS
Summer Streets
Part bike tour, part walking tour, part block party, Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space–our streets. On three Saturdays this August, nearly seven consecutive miles of NYC’s streets will be opened for New Yorkers and visitors alike to play, walk and bike. The route extends from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, with easy side travel options to the Hudson River Greenway, Harlem, Brooklyn and Governors Island, and will feature a broad range of activities for all ages. Check nyc.gov later in the summer for more information. All activities are FREE.
Weekend Walks
DOT is once again partnering with community groups in every borough to present Weekend Walks. These temporary pedestrian streets expand the doorsteps of local businesses and cultural institutions while promoting healthy, safe, and fun recreation. Hosted by local community groups and merchants, each Weekend Walk features a range of family-friendly activities, from music performances to arts and crafts to classes and youth programming. This year there are 24 Weekend Walks events in all five boroughs through October. For a list of locations and dates, visit nyc.gov/weekendwalks or call 311. All activities are FREE.
For more information visit www.nyc.gov/dot.
VISUAL ART
Public Art Fund
The Public Art Fund hosts temporary, site-specific public art installations throughout the city year round. This summer’s exhibitions include:
Midnight Moment: A Digital Gallery
Midnight Moment is the largest coordinated effort in history by the sign operators in Times Square to display synchronized, cutting-edge creative content at the same time every day. Each month, the program will present a new selection to be screened every day in a countdown to Midnight. Every night, 11:57 PM – 12:00 AM, Times Square, Manhattan. FREE.
The Water Tank Project - Word Above the Street
A public art and environmental advocacy campaign that will transform the New York City skyline for three months beginning in August 2013. Over 100 water tanks across all five boroughs will be wrapped with water-themed contemporary art by both leading and emerging artists to draw awareness to our most precious resource - water. Art up above will be grounded in a variety of educational programs and social media initiatives. Starting in August, citywide. FREE.
Art in the Parks
NYC Parks hosts temporary public art exhibitions in public spaces in all five boroughs throughout the year.
For a complete listing of public art installed in city parks, visit www.nyc.gov/parks.
The Hebrew Home at Riverdale
Two exhibitions at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale’s Derfner Judaica Museum and art collection. Abstraction in the 1960s features abstract paintings and works on paper from the 1960s by nine different artists and drawn from the Hebrew Home's art collection. Alchemy in Art - Selected Abstract Sculpture by Barry Feuerstein takes inspiration from science and the natural world - particle physics, mathematical principles, and global warming. Abstraction in the 1960s is on display through July 28; Alchemy in Art is up through December 29, 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Hebrew Home at Riverdale, 5901 Palisade Avenue, Bronx. FREE.
From the Bordertown out into the World: Jews in Memel
An exhibition of historical photographs documenting the diverse day-to-day lives of Jews in East Prussia, Germany, before Hitler occupied the region in 1939. Through September 30, Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center and Archives, 222-05 56th Avenue, Queens. FREE.
"On Time/Grand Central at 100"
MTA Arts for Transit and Urban Design curate this contemporary-art exhibit that celebrates the transit hub’s centennial. Artists tackle the theme of time, with pieces that include a video of a recent Improv Everywhere performance in the terminal, an installation of Grand Central ephemera, and photographs and paintings that reference the station’s iconic imagery. Through July 7, New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex Grand Central Terminal, E 42nd Street between Lexington Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue, Manhattan. FREE.
“Maurice Sendak: A Celebration of the Artist and His Work”
The Society of Illustrators displays more than 200 previously unseen sketches, photographs and illustrations by the renowned children’s book author. Through August 17, Society of Illustrators, 128 E 63rd Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue, Manhattan. FREE.
Pete Pin Cambodian Diaspora - En Foco
Pin’s images of Cambodian communities across the United States are on view at the. Through July 19, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Montefiore Family Health Center, 360 E 193rd Street, Bronx. FREE.
Blue Star Museums
A program of the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue StarFamilies and the Department of Defense, Blue Star Museums offers free admission to more than 1,600 museums nationwide to active duty military service members and their families. This year, nearly 50 cultural institutions in all five boroughs are participating in the Blue Star Museums initiative. Now through Labor Day (September 3). FREE. Please note that some institutions, including the Bronx Museum of the Arts, the Museum of Arts and Design and the Museum of Modern Art, are free year-round to military service members and their families.
FILM SCREENINGS
Free Movies in the Parks
NYC Parks host dozens of free film screenings in parks throughout the boroughs through September. Visit www.nyc.gov/parks for a complete listing. Film series in New York City parks include:
Films on the Green
Films on the Green is a free outdoor French film festival produced annually in New York City parks by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in partnership with NYC Parks Department. This year the festival explores the many facets of love with works by established and new directors. Fridays through August 2, times and locations vary. FREE.
GOVERNORS ISLAND
Governors Island is open every Saturday, Sunday and Holiday Monday (Memorial Day and Labor Day) through September 29 from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM and hosts a wide variety of events, exhibitions, and other activities throughout the season. Below is a selection of events, visit www.govisland.com for a complete listing.
Children's Museum of the Arts - Art Island Outpost
Join CMA's Teaching Artists for free hands on art-making each weekend. Collaborate with other visitors on a variety of themed art workshops including painting, sound design, sculpture, animation, podcasting, and more. Saturdays and Sundays through September 29, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. FREE.FIGMENT 2013 Summer-Long Installations
This summer, FIGMENT’s acclaimed interactive Sculpture Garden, artist-designed Minigolf Course and City of Dreams Pavilion welcome visitors to the Parade Grounds to play with, dance around, contemplate on, and experience these imaginative installations. One centerpiece of FIGMENT's summer-long installations for 2013 is the Treehouse, expanded and returning to Governors Island for a third year. Through September 22. FREE.Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Presents Building 110: LMCC’s Arts Center at Governors Island,
LMCC and its artists-in-residence welcome audience to Building 110's Gallery and their studios. Discover new artists, engage in the artistic process and simply enjoy the art. Through September 29, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. FREE.Bang on a Can All Stars
Formed in 1992, the Bang on a Can All-Stars are recognized worldwide for their ultra-dynamic live performances and recordings of today’s most innovative music. Freely crossing the boundaries between classical, jazz, rock, world and experimental music, this six-member amplified ensemble has consistently forged a distinct category-defying identity, taking music into uncharted territories. July 13, 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM. FREE.New York City Poetry Festival
The Poetry Society of New York invites New Yorkers to this two day festival to celebrate NYC’s vibrant poetry community. The event will include over 50 poetry organizations and 200 poets on its three stages; a Vendor’s Village where local booksellers, artists and craftmakers will sell their wares; healthy and delicious food options; poetic installation art throughout, and the Children’s Festival at NYCPF, this year sponsored by Writopia! July 27 - July 28, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. FREE.Homage to Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring: Ljova and the Kontraband and Fireworks Ensemble
Ljova and the Kontraband is chamber-jam music that combines Eastern-European and Gypsy melodies, Latin rhythms, Jazz-inspired improvisations, and Classical forms in original compositions. August 10, 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM. FREE.
MATERIALS FOR THE ARTS EVENTS
A program of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Materials for the Arts is the City’s largest municipal reuse operation and hosts a number of workshops, activities and exhibitions that are free and open to the public. All events take place at the MFTA Warehouse, 33-00 Northern Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Queens.
Visit www.nyc.gov/mfta for a complete schedule or more information.
LITERARY EVENTS
Lorca in NYC - New York Public Library
The New York Public Library and the Federico García Lorca Foundation present Back Tomorrow--Federico García Lorca - Poet in New York, an exhibition that brings together for the first time the recovered New York manuscripts, photos, and drawings that trace Lorca’s vision from first drafts to fair copies to the nervous line of pen and colored pencil. Through July 21, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Wachenheim Gallery, Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, Manhattan. FREE.
15th Annual Harlem Book Fair
The New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture hosts the on July 20, the country’s largest event dedicated to African-American readers and writers, an afternoon outdoors, with vendors, live music and food. July 20, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Langston Hughes Auditorium, 515 Malcolm X Blvd, Manhattan. FREE.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Gramsci Monument
Gramsci Monument is the fourth and final work in Thomas Hirschhorn’s series of “monuments” dedicated to major writers and thinkers. Gramsci Monument will be located on the grounds of Forest Houses, a New York City Housing Authority development in the Bronx, and take the form of a temporary pavilion with a theater stage, a library of Antonio Gramsci’s books, a public lounge, an internet corner, a workshop area with carpentry tools, a food kiosk and a wide variety of programming. July 1 to September 15, open daily 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM, off Tinton Avenue between 163rd and 165th, Bronx. FREE.
Bronx Culture Trolley
Catch the trolley on the first Wednesday evening of each month (except January & September). Hosted by the Bronx Council on the Arts, the trolley ride and admission to participating venues along its route through the South Bronx Cultural Corridor are free. Venues for July include the Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos, Bronx Museum of the Arts, Andrew Freedman Mansion, Pregones Theater, BronxArtSpace, and more. July 3, trolley departs at 5:30 PM, 6:30 PM, and 7:30 PM, Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos, 450 Grand Concourse, Bronx. FREE.
CULTURAL VENUES WITH FREE OR SUGGESTED ADMISSION
The City of New York is home to more than 700 galleries, 380 nonprofit theater companies, 330 dance companies, 131 museums, 96 orchestras, 40 Broadway theaters, 15 major concert halls, five zoos, five botanical gardens, and an aquarium. Many institutions offer free hours or suggested admission:
Free Hours at Cultural Venues
Marc La Vorgna / Julie Wood
(212) 788-2958
Danai Pointer/Ryan Max (Cultural Affairs)
(212) 513-9322