The Power of Millennium Stage
When art is made accessible to the public, it has the unique ability to inform and inspire us.
èßäAVCelebrates the Impact of Jim Johnson
1943 - 2020
Courage, freedom, justice, service, and gratitude. As a living memorial to President Kennedy, we are inspired daily by these enduring ideals that the president championed.
Our friend Jim Johnson embodied these values, making it his mission to ensure that the arts are inclusive and accessible. As the fourth Kennedy Center Chairman from 1996-2004 and later as a community leader, providing his guidance on projects like the centennial celebration of President Kennedy's birth in 2017, Jim has always had an acute understanding of the Kennedy Center’s role as the nation’s cultural center—and his impact is undeniable.
"My personal view is that the arts play a very powerful role in our society."
— Jim Johnson
Millennium Stage
Perhaps closest to Jim's heart is one of his greatest impacts on the performing arts in Washington and the nation. Millennium Stage has offered free daily performances since 1999.
Millennium Stage Tributes to Jim Johnson
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Impacts of Millennium Stage
Arts Access for Everyone Breaking down access boundaries, Millennium Stage and the Performing Arts for Everyone program showed that experiencing art – and the National Cultural Center – really is for everyone! With a free performance every day since March 1, 1997, Millennium Stage has allowed millions of people in DC and around the world a chance to view a live performance, regardless of their background or any perceived limitations. Millennium Stage proves art truly is for all.
Expanding the Artistic Experience Millennium Stage has explored every aspect and genre of performing arts. From American traditional and contemporary performances…to international styles, artists, and global traditions…bluegrass, gospel, hip hop, comedy, opera, dance, spoken word, movement, classical performance, children’s theater, and more have all been featured on our stages. With representation from communities and artists of all backgrounds, this bold artistic exploration has led to the development of new genre areas across the Center.
Partnerships with Other Organizations Just as the arts are for everyone, artistic creation on Millennium Stage is by everyone! Millennium Stage programmers have forged relationships with other organizations, such as Georgetown for the annual Let Freedom Ring concert, DC Public Schools with the Music Festival Week, and the D.C. Hip Hop Theater Festival and Hi-Arts. Many of these relationships with Millennium Stage have led to full programing seasons and festivals, like 2014’s One Mic: Hip Hop Culture Worldwide festival and our current Hip Hop culture season.
Nurturing Talent Millennium Stage has always been a home for cultivating new talent, both for up and coming and existing artists. Brilliant performers and creators were nurtured on our stages, including Grammy Award winning jazz Norah Jones and America’s Got Talent star Mandy Harvey. The James A. Johnson Young Artist Series highlights the best emerging artists across genres.
Regional and Global Impact Before Millennium Stage there wasn’t a dedicated space in the National Cultural Center to support and promote contemporary and developing artists in our region. This focus allowed the Center to form relationships with other artists, strengthening the artistic ecosystem of Washington DC, and the nation. While supporting regional artists is a hallmark of Millennium Stage programming, its reach is everywhere. Global performances are regularly invited to perform on our stages, giving visitors– and millions online – the opportunity to experience the regional arts of communities across the globe. Every state, and nations around the world, have been performed on Millennium Stage.
Digital Arts Access Millennium Stage paved the way for digital arts access, streaming performances live online since 1998. Even before steaming on YouTube or Facebook was commonplace, arts lovers around the country were able to welcome our artists into their homes with live streamed performances. With a catalogue of thousands of shows, everyone can watch and explore our extensive history of performances.
More Highlights as Kennedy Center Chairman
Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program brings emerging jazz artists to the Kennedy Center for two-weeks of workshops and rehearsals, culminating with Millennium Stage concerts.
Photo by Margot Schulman, Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Archives
èßäAVShuttle Service began as part of Jim Johnson’s commitment to bring accessibility to the performing arts.
Photo by Carol Pratt, Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Archives
The Local Dance Commissioning Project shares new dance works with wider audiences via Millennium Stage.
Photo by Carol Pratt, Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Archives
All-female Percussion group Red Poppy performs on Millennium Stage as part of the Kennedy Center’s Festival of China.
Photo by Mike Buenaflor, Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Archives
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars perform as one of the daily free concerts on Millennium Stage.
Photo by Mike Buenaflor, Courtesy of Kennedy Center Archives
Merry TUBACHRISTMAS! is an annual holiday event on Millennium Stage highlighting the low brass instruments.
Photo by Mike Buenaflor, Courtesy of Kennedy Center Archives
