On April 13, Lincoln Center announced that their Josie Robertson Plaza is transforming into “The Green,” allowing New Yorkers to enjoy the space.
The Green is a part of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation-Lincoln Center Agora initiative, Restart Stages, whose mission is to help rebuild the arts sector and the city’s revival by reimagining and reactivating public spaces. It will create 10 outdoor performance and rehearsal spaces, an outdoor performing arts center, and more public venues.
In coordination with NY PopsUp, part of Governor Cuomo’s New York Arts Revival, the initiative will go beyond the Lincoln Center. Restart Stages began on April 7, World Health Day with performances for healthcare workers by the New York Philharmonic.
Mimi Lien, set designer and MacArthur Genius grantee, is in charge of the plaza’s reimagination. She wanted to create it into a place of inclusion and inhabitation rather than just an area to walk through to see a performance or get to the Library. Lien envisions The Green as a park space where people can relax and a site of social infrastructure.
Before The Green, the plaza was 14,000 square feet of open concrete. After being redesigned, it will be made of recyclable and biobased SYNLawn grass-like material. It is provided by SYNLawn New York and contains high soy content from U.S Farmers. Hudson Scenic Studio is providing the fabrication. To add to the community aspect of The Green, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is providing books for the public to borrow. A small snack bar will be in the northeast corner and there will be pop up performances in the Summer and Fall.
The Green opens on May 10 through September 2021, from 9 a.m to midnight. Due to the pandemic, safety protocols will be in place to follow guidelines.
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