General:
CELEBRATE BROOKLYN is one of New York City's longest running, free, outdoor performing arts festivals. Launched in 1979, as a catalyst for a Brooklyn performing arts scene and to bring people back into Prospect Park after years of neglect, Celebrate Brooklyn has been an anchor in the park's revitalization and has become one of the city's foremost summer cultural attractions. Over the course of its history Celebrate Brooklyn has presented over 1,700 artists and ensembles reflective of the borough's diversity, ranging from internationally acclaimed performers to emerging, cutting-edge artists. All Celebrate Brooklyn performances are free! The festival attracts upwards of 250,000 attendees from across New York City to the Prospect Park Bandshell each summer. Celebrate Brooklyn has a well developed membership program with over 500 seasonal members. Benefits of membership include express entry, reserved seating, pre-concert receptions and more.
Music: Celebrate Brooklyn's music programming features established and emerging artists in a large and adventurous array of styles and genres ranging from regional American roots music, extremely varied world-music, classical and new music, jazz, pop and alt-rock and hip hop. Performers who have appeared at Celebrate Brooklyn include: They Might Be Giants, The Neville Brothers, Talib Kweli, Baaba Maal, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Café Tacuba, Richard Thompson, Carl Hancock Rux, Angelique Kidjo, Maceo Parker, Dr. John, Leela James, Joan Armatrading and Hugh Masekela.
Dance: Each season features commissions, residencies and performances for 3-5 dance companies. Celebrate Brooklyn works with dance professionals in all stages of their careers including emerging artists, mid-sized companies, and world-renowned choreographers including Mark Morris Dance Group, Savion Glover, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Group, Noche Flamenca, Streb and Philadanco.
Spoken Word/Theater: Celebrate Brooklyn has successfully presented one-man shows and full scale theater productions to enthusiastic new audiences. Performers/productions include the New York Shakespeare Festival, Eric Bogosian/"Sex, Drugs & Rock n' Roll," Spalding Gray/"Untitled — Interview of the Audience," The Blue Man Group, Sekou Sundiata and most recently, Brave New World Repertory Theatre.
Film: Our unique Live Music for Film program pairs extraordinary live performers with screenings of silent, animated and short films, enabling artists to create multi-media performances that span time and place with projections on NYC's largest outdoor screen. Artists/films have included Alloy Orchestra/Phantom of the Opera; Yo La Tengo/Sounds of Science; The Jazz Passengers/Creature From the Black Lagoon (in 3D); and Philip Glass & Kronos Quartet/Dracula.
Special Commissions: Celebrate Brooklyn is dedicated to nurturing and supporting new works from artists in all genres. Every year the festival selects a small group of artists to support in the development of new works. The commissioned projects are presented in the festival's upcoming summer season. Celebrate Brooklyn has commissioned work from Alloy Orchestra, BQE Project, Brave New World Repertory Theater, Sean Curran and many more.
