Conference Explores Arts Access

By Ria DasGupta, Brittney Burgess, and Robert Torigoe

In a landmark collaboration, Lincoln Center and Juilliard—along with the School of American Ballet (SAB), New York City Ballet, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Center Theater, New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, and New York Public Library for the Performing Arts—hosted the inaugural Curriculum for Change Conference: Innovating Access in the Performing Arts. This pioneering hybrid conference, held in October, brought together approximately 300 educators, administrators, and artists—in person and online—to reimagine accessibility and inclusion in the performing arts sector.

The daylong event at Juilliard began with remarks from Lincoln Center's president and CEO, Mariko Silver; Juilliard’s president, Damian Woetzel; and Lincoln Center's Ehrenkranz chief artistic officer, Shanta Thake. The opening ceremony featured a performance by second-year master’s mezzo-soprano Kate Morton and second-year graduate collaborative pianist Inkyo Hong, followed by a keynote address from national youth poet laureate Stephanie Pacheco. Kate, Inkyo, and Stephanie brought vulnerability and artistry, blending art song with Cherokee Nation heritage and Bronx-rooted poetry and activism.

Conference sessions tackled vital issues in the arts community, covering a comprehensive approach to accessibility, from physical space design to digital innovation and institutional reform. Highlights included SAB’s national visiting fellows program, which aims to elevate dance education access, and a panel on supporting women of color in arts leadership.

A standout feature was the conference’s focus on practical solutions. Workshops included "Building Our Own Tables," which explored podcasting as a tool for social change, and another session examining the legal landscape of DEI initiatives in today's political climate. Other timely topics included gender inclusivity in casting and performance, with insights from University of Michigan experts on disrupting binary approaches in theater.

Digital innovation was central, with sessions discussing technology’s role in enhancing program accessibility. The conference also addressed challenging conversations, such as "HBCU Arts 911," focusing on support pathways for marginalized artists from historically Black colleges and universities.

Practical demonstrations of accessibility in action were featured, including tours of David Geffen Hall’s accessible design and discussions on implementing relaxed performance models across art genres. A visionary workshop titled "Innovating Lincoln Center: 2040" encouraged participants to envision the future of the cultural campus, honoring John D. Rockefeller III’s belief that "the arts are not for the privileged few but for the many."

The conference concluded with a networking mixer, fostering connections among attendees and staff from across Lincoln Center’s campus. This gathering was more than a professional networking opportunity—it embodied the collaborative spirit needed for lasting change in the performing arts.

This event represents a major step forward in Lincoln Center’s commitment to broadening access to the arts, offering a model for other cultural institutions. By bringing together diverse voices, the conference showed that accessibility innovation goes beyond physical spaces and digital tools—it’s about reimagining how we create, present, and share the arts with all communities, starting within our own.

Ria DasGupta is Juilliard’s director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) initiatives; Brittney Burgess is the program manager for EDIB partnerships and access; Robert Torigoe is the education initiatives manager at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.