Thursday, October 15The arts, front and centerGalleries · Stages · Concert halls
The Arts Guide

The arts, explained in big numbers

Painting, theater, music, dance and film: a short, lively tour of the arts, the places that show them off and the people who make them happen.

The numbers
41Broadway theaters in New York, each seating 500 or more
1870The year The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded
1.5M+Works in The Met’s collection, spanning 5,000 years
1891Carnegie Hall opens its doors in Manhattan
c.1503Leonardo da Vinci begins painting the Mona Lisa
37+Plays credited to William Shakespeare
01

On the walls

Galleries and museums are where most of us meet great art: the big encyclopedic museums with collections spanning thousands of years, and the small galleries showing the artists of tomorrow.

Many museums offer free or pay-what-you-wish days, and a growing number put their collections online.

  • MuseumCollects, keeps and shows art
  • GalleryShows and often sells new work
  • BiennialA big show every two years
02

Curtain up

Live theater runs from the bright lights of Broadway to community stages in nearly every town. A Broadway theater, by definition, seats 500 or more; smaller houses are Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway.

Touring productions bring the big shows to cities across the country every season.

  • 500+Seats in a Broadway house
  • PreviewsShows before opening night
  • TourA show on the road
03

In concert

Symphony orchestras, opera companies and chamber groups keep centuries of music alive, while new composers keep adding to it.

Concert halls are built for sound: their shape, materials and seating are all tuned so every note carries.

  • 80-100Players in a full orchestra
  • LibrettoThe words of an opera
  • EncoreOnce more, by request
04

On pointe & on screen

Ballet and modern dance companies tour the world, and festivals bring dance and film to new audiences every year.

Independent film festivals are where many future favorites are first seen.

  • PointeDancing on the tips of the toes
  • PremiereA first public showing
  • FestivalMany shows, one season
05

Making it happen

Behind every show is a crew: designers, technicians, ushers, fundraisers and volunteers.

Arts organizations big and small rely on ticket sales, members, donors and grants to keep the lights on.

  • CrewThe people backstage
  • MembersRegular supporters
  • Box officeWhere it all starts
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