Education
Performances and Events
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Explore the Arts
These events offer adult audiences opportunities for arts participation, engagement, interaction, and exploration through master classes, workshops, demonstrations, lectures, open rehearsals, and more.
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Millennium Stage
Each evening, at 6p.m., the Millennium Stage features free performances by a broad range of music, dance, and theater artists from the Washington metro area, across the nation, and around the world.
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Performances for Young Audiences
New worlds of excitement, education and entertainment with commissions, productions, and presentations from the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences and programs of the National Symphony Orchestra, VSA, and Washington National Opera.
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NSO Concerts for Young Audiences
NSO performances for Young Audiences include full orchestra Family Concerts and performances by small ensembles for ages 3 to teens. These NSO performances introduce classical music to children in an atmosphere of fun.
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School Performances / Events
The Kennedy Center commissions, produces, presents, and tours performances for students and teachers.
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Events for Students
Students in grades K-12 participate in performance/demonstrations, rehearsals, master classes, and discussions presented by the artists and companies performing at the Kennedy Center.
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Opera Look-In and Student Dress Rehearsal
Students are introduced to opera through the Opera Look-In each season and can experience a full-length performance at the final Dress Rehearsals of Washington National Opera's main stage productions.
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NSO Instrument "Petting Zoos"
Hands-on fun with instruments! Children (and their parents) have the chance to get up close and personal with the orchestral instruments they will see professionally played on stage.
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NSO In Your Neighborhood
The National Symphony Orchestra aims to reach a wide audience through its classical subscription series, pops concerts, and one of the country's most extensive educational programs.
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New Visions/New Voices
New Visions/New Voices is a week-long program in May for playwrights and theaters to stimulate and support the creation of new plays and musicals for young audiences and families.
- Performance Access Programs
Funding for the Kennedy Center’s Accessibility Initiatives is provided by
Mike and Julie Connors and the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation.
Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by
David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.
Additional support is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Gifts and grants to these programs are provided by Adobe Foundation; Sandra K. & Clement C. Alpert; AnBryce Foundation; AT&T; Bank of America; Bernstein Family Foundation; The Honorable Stuart Bernstein and Wilma E. Bernstein; Capital One Bank; Carter and Melissa Cafritz Charitable Trust; Centene Charitable Foundation; The Charles Engelhard Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Community Advisory Board; DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; David Gregory and Beth Wilkinson; Harman Family Foundation; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; Hilton Worldwide; The Isadore and Bertha Gudelsky Family Foundation, Inc.; The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The King-White Family Foundation and Dr. J. Douglas White; The Kiplinger Foundation; Natalie and Herb Kohler and Kohler Co.; The Macy's Foundation; Linda and Tobia Mercuro; The Meredith Foundation; The Millennium Stage Endowment Fund; The Morningstar Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; National Endowment for the Arts; Newman's Own Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Mrs. Irene Pollin; Prince Charitable Trusts; Rose Mary Kennedy Education Fund; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; Share Fund; Mr. and Mrs. Albert H. Small; Suzy and Bob Pence; Target; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Sherry and Eddie Wachs; Washington Gas; Wells Fargo; Beatrice and Anthony Welters; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.
Education and related artistic programs are also made possible through the generosity of the
National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.
The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.