Brooklyn Academy of Music

Brooklyn Academy of Music
Name	Brooklyn Academy of Music
Caption	The Peter Jay Sharp Building, home to the Howard Gilman Opera House.
Address	30 Lafayette Avenue
City	Brooklyn, New York City
Country	United States
Designation	National Register of Historic Places
Opened	1908
Architect	Herts & Tallant
Type	Performing arts center
Capacity	Howard Gilman Opera House: 2,109, BAM Harvey Theater: 874, BAM Fisher Building: 250

Brooklyn Academy of Music is a premier performing arts venue located in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. Founded in 1859, it is the oldest continuously operating performing arts center in the United States. The institution is renowned for its progressive programming, presenting innovative work in theater, dance, music, and opera from around the world. Often referred to by its acronym BAM, it has played a pivotal role in the cultural landscape of New York City and has been a catalyst for the revitalization of its surrounding community.

History

The institution was originally established in 1859 in the Brooklyn Heights area, with its first building opening on Montague Street. That structure was destroyed by fire in 1903, leading to the construction of its current home, which opened in 1908 on Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene. The design was the work of the architectural firm Herts & Tallant, notable for several early 20th-century theaters. Throughout the 20th century, it presented a wide array of performances, including early appearances by luminaries like Sarah Bernhardt and lectures by Winston Churchill. A major turning point came in 1967 with the appointment of Harvey Lichtenstein as executive director, who transformed the venue into a world-renowned hub for avant-garde and international work, launching the influential Next Wave Festival in 1983.

Architecture and facilities

The campus centers on the Beaux-Arts style Peter Jay Sharp Building, which houses the grand Howard Gilman Opera House and the more intimate BAM Rose Cinemas. Across the street is the BAM Harvey Theater, a meticulously restored former movie palace known for its raw, industrial aesthetic, which reopened in 1999 after a renovation by architect Hugh Hardy. The BAM Fisher Building, a former bank building redesigned by architect Hugh Hardy and opened in 2012, added a flexible black-box theater and rehearsal spaces. The campus also includes the BAM Strong, a mixed-use development with administrative offices, and the institution's archives are housed at the Brooklyn Historical Society.

Programming and artistic direction

The academy's artistic vision is defined by its commitment to cutting-edge and culturally significant work. Its flagship Next Wave Festival, established under Harvey Lichtenstein, has premiered landmark productions by artists such as Philip Glass and Robert Wilson (Einstein on the Beach), Pina Bausch, and Peter Brook. The annual BAM Opera series and the BAM DanceAfrica festival, founded by Chuck Davis, are other cornerstone events. Under leaders like Joseph V. Melillo and current Artistic Director David Binder, programming has expanded to include a wide global roster, featuring companies like the Comédie-Française and artists such as Mikhail Baryshnikov and Steve McQueen.

BAMcinématek and media

BAMcinématek is the institution's celebrated film program, operating within the BAM Rose Cinemas. It presents daily repertory film series, retrospectives, and festivals, with a focus on classic, independent, and international cinema. Notable annual events include the BAMcinemaFest for independent films and series dedicated to filmmakers like Ingmar Bergman and Akira Kurosawa. The media arm also produces original content, distributes films, and maintains the BAM Digital Archive, making historical performance footage and materials accessible to researchers and the public.

Education and community programs

A wide range of initiatives engages students, teachers, and the local community. The BAM Education & Humanities department offers school-time performances, professional development for educators, and in-school residency programs with teaching artists. Signature programs include BAM Hamm Archives projects for students and the BAM Community Book Club. The institution also runs the BAMkids program, which features family-friendly performances and the annual BAMkids Film Festival, and offers extensive community ticket initiatives to ensure broad access to its performances.

Leadership and funding

The academy operates as a non-profit organization under the guidance of a Board of Trustees. Its leadership has included transformative figures like President and Executive Producer Harvey Lichtenstein and Artistic Director Joseph V. Melillo. Funding is derived from a mix of earned revenue, including ticket sales, and substantial contributed income from individuals, foundations like the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, corporate sponsors such as Bank of America, and government grants from entities like the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Category:Performing arts centers in New York City Category:Music venues in Brooklyn Category:Theatres in Brooklyn Category:National Register of Historic Places in Brooklyn Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1908