SHANTA THAKE

AT LINCOLN CENTER, SHE BRINGS ARTISTS, DISCIPLINES AND AUDIENCES TOGETHER—ENRICHING THE CULTURAL LIFE OF NEW YORK.

As Chief Artistic Officer of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Shanta Thake leads the artistic vision of one of New York City’s defining institutions—a campus encompassing eleven cultural organizations, from Juilliard to the Metropolitan Opera. A curator who has spent her career bringing artists and communities together, she creates space for the stage to engage with the world beyond it.

Experience has changed the way Thake approaches her own craft. Early in her career, she thought curating meant getting her own point of view—or the artists she championed—to the front of the stage. Over time, she's learned to listen more deeply to artists, ideas and the world around her. “It’s a lifelong pursuit.”

Moving between worlds is also part of the rhythm of Thake’s day. Getting dressed becomes “a fun puzzle in the morning,” with pieces that can take her from school drop-off to sitting at her desk to performances before stepping into a gala.

THE UNIFORM, PERSONALIZED

"Old school Hollywood meets the Philharmonic."

SHANTA THAKE

“WHEN YOU PUT ALL THESE FORMS IN THE SAME PHYSICAL PLACE, THEY INFORM ONE ANOTHER. THE AUDIENCES LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER. AND IT JUST BECOMES THIS BEACON TO CULTURE.”

THE UNIFORM, PERSONALIZED

SOPHIE DE RAKOFF