The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
🏢 The New York Public Library · New York, New York
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
Nestled inside Lincoln Center, the NYPL for the Performing Arts holds one of the world's largest collections of materials on dance, music, theater, and recorded sound — and opens its doors free to all, every Tuesday through Friday.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10:30am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10:30am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10:30am–8pm |
| Friday | 10:30am–6pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 40 Lincoln Center Plaza (entrance: 111 Amsterdam Ave, between 64th & 65th Sts), New York, NY 10023
Phone: (917) 275-6975
Website: nypl.org
Plus Code: 87G8Q2F8+F2 (New York, NY)
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📖 About The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, stands at the heart of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The institution's origins trace to 1932, when musicologist Carleton Sprague Smith first proposed a dedicated performing-arts research library; the building finally opened on November 30, 1965, designed with interiors by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. From 1998 to 2001 the library underwent a sweeping $38 million renovation by Polshek Partnership that consolidated its divisional reading rooms into a unified public research floor — and it was renamed in honor of Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman, whose $12.5 million gift made the transformation possible. Today the library's three renowned research divisions — the Jerome Robbins Dance Division (established 1964), the Billy Rose Theatre Division, and the Music and Recorded Sound Division (whose roots go back to 1895) — collectively house approximately 4.5 million photographs, 500,000 clipping folders, autograph manuscripts by Bach and Brahms, historic recordings, stage designs, posters, and vast jazz holdings. The 202-seat Bruno Walter Auditorium hosts free public performances, film screenings, and lectures throughout the year, and the Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab provides a state-of-the-art performance and rehearsal space.
⭐ What makes this library special
- One of the world's largest performing-arts research collections: dance, music, theater, and recorded sound under one roof at Lincoln Center
- Three specialist research divisions — Jerome Robbins Dance, Billy Rose Theatre, and Music & Recorded Sound — each with rare archives, manuscripts, and recordings
- The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound, preserving historic audio and video materials spanning more than a century
- Free public programs at the 202-seat Bruno Walter Auditorium: concerts, film screenings, lectures, and exhibitions at no charge
- Renamed the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center in 2001 following a landmark $12.5 million gift that funded a complete $38 million renovation
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
NYPL cardholders and New York State residents can stream, download, and research free through these digital resources:
📚 Services
- On-site research access to world-class performing-arts archives and rare collections (walk-in or by appointment)
- Circulating collections of books, scores, and recordings available with a free NYPL card
- Free gallery exhibitions on dance, music, theater, and performing-arts history
- 202-seat Bruno Walter Auditorium for free public programs
- Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab — state-of-the-art performance and rehearsal space
- Educational programs for K–12 through post-graduate institutions
- Event-space rental for performances and private gatherings
- Fully accessible facility
🎸 Programs
- Free concerts and musical performances in the Bruno Walter Auditorium
- Film screenings and documentary programs
- Public lectures and panel discussions on performing arts
- Curated gallery exhibitions (current: Martha Graham and performing-arts history)
- Research seminars and educational outreach for schools
📍 Nearby Libraries in Manhattan
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman, and why is the library named after them?
Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman were prominent New York philanthropists and long-time supporters of the arts. Dorothy served as a trustee of The New York Public Library; she died in 2009, and Lewis in 2019. Their $12.5 million gift funded the library's landmark $38 million renovation, completed in 2001, which unified the research reading rooms and modernized the entire facility — earning the building the Cullman name as a lasting tribute.
Is this a public library I can walk into, or is it only for researchers?
Both. The circulating collections, exhibitions, and free programs in the Bruno Walter Auditorium are open to any visitor without an appointment. The three research divisions — Jerome Robbins Dance, Billy Rose Theatre, and Music & Recorded Sound — welcome walk-in researchers as well, though some rare materials require advance scheduling. A free NYPL library card is all you need to borrow from the circulating stacks.
What are the library's hours, and is it open on weekends?
The Library for the Performing Arts is open Tuesday through Friday: 10:30 am–6 pm (with extended hours until 8 pm on Thursdays). It is closed Monday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you are visiting specifically for a Bruno Walter Auditorium program, check the events calendar at nypl.org, as evening and weekend performances may be scheduled independently of regular library hours.
What makes the Jerome Robbins Dance Division unique?
Established in 1964 — and named for legendary choreographer Jerome Robbins, who donated his personal papers and supported the collection throughout his life — the Dance Division is one of the most comprehensive dance archives in the world. It holds films and videos of live performances, choreographic notation scores, photographs, correspondence, and clippings spanning ballet, modern dance, folk dance, and Broadway from the early 20th century to today, much of it unavailable anywhere else.
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