Beacon to the World

“Masterful. . . . A powerful work of nonfiction with the drama of a novel.”—Jaap van Zweden, Wall Street Journal

“Beacon to the World is about art and artists, and is an inspiration to read.”—Air Mail

“Polisi chronicles the evolution of the ever-growing, ever-expanding, ever-renovating center largely via the larger-than-life personalities at the helm. . . . Particularly fascinating is discussion of the early years, with powerbrokers John D. Rockefeller III and Robert Moses claiming New York’s Upper West Side for their new arts campus, which displaced Black, Latinx, and other economically disadvantaged residents in the interest of urban renewal. The book reveals that Black Lives Matter and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion really seemed to rattle the institution for the good.”—M. S. LoMonaco, Choice

“An incredibly thorough and useful reference for academics and practitioners interested in knowing the story of Lincoln Center and its arts-organization constituents. The book is ideal for students and practitioners to use as a case study in arts organizational development.”—Joanna Woronkowicz, Journal of Urban Affairs

“Written by a scholar, musician and arts executive, Polisi’s superb work is an authoritative yet eminently readable account of the creation and growth of the world’s most important performing arts center.”—Nathan Leventhal, president emeritus, Lincoln Center

“Joseph Polisi has written an indispensable and detailed account of Lincoln Center’s complex history, from its iconic Cold War founding to the cultural uncertainties of classical performance in America today.”—Robert Marx, president, Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation

“A superb history about one of the world’s most important cultural centers. The narrative is compelling and besides providing a history of the Lincoln Center, is about leaders, leadership styles, and leadership effectiveness.”—Jamal J. Rossi, Eastman School of Music

“The public deserves such an eyewitness account as this. Joseph Polisi welcomes readers to a historic glimpse of a noble venture that envisioned the arts as a pillar of democracy. In it we see the courage and frailty of humanity reflected by leaders whose tenacity established Lincoln Center as a ‘beacon to the world.’”—Robert Blocker, Yale University