Lincoln Center Goes Virtual For Renowned Summer Arts Camp

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Lincoln Center is partnering with the Department of Education to provide its Middle School Summer Audition Camp virtually to rising New York City eighth graders.

The camp provides virtual audition prep and personalized arts lessons to almost 200 rising eighth graders from Title 1 middle schools in New York City. The program is free for all students.

Title 1 schools are establishments that have a high number or high percentage of children from low-income households.

Rising eighth graders interested in the arts are not only at the precipice of a school year cloaked in uncertainty due to the coronavirus, but will also have to get ready for the extremely competitive audition process of elite performing arts high schools in New York City.

The camp kicked off at the beginning of August and will end on Friday. The program was previously called "Boot Camp."

While the coronavirus put a stoppage on the camp taking place in its typical Lincoln Center campus location, the virtual programming has its perks.

"This new virtual program has allowed us to expand our partnerships with incredible arts organizations, including Carnegie Hall, NY Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, The Julliard School, Studio in a School and more," according to a news release from Lincoln Center.

In 2018, 95 percent of the camp's participants got into their top choice high school.