Hudson Yards Arts Space 'The Shed' Set To Open

HUDSON YARDS, NY — Local elected officials, artists and real estate executives celebrated the opening of Hudson Yards' marquee arts space The Shed during a dedication ceremony Monday days before the space opens to the public.

The Shed, located on West 30th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, will debut to the public on April 5. The space's first season features performances by big names such as Bjork, filmmaker Steve McQueen and music icon Quincy Jones and exhibits featuring newly commissioned work from Trisha Donnelly and Agnes Denes

"We have built a home where established and emerging artists working in all disciplines can create new work in ways that we cannot even imagine,” said Artistic Director Alex Poots said in a press release. "Beginning on April 5, 2019, The Shed’s community of neighbors, New Yorkers, and visitors from around the world will come together to experience the widest range of art forms in spaces that can accommodate artists’ most inventive and ambitious ideas."

Mayor Bill de Blasio touted The Shed's opening as a "great step forward for New York City" during Monday's dedication ceremony. The mayor specifically recognized The Shed for its "Open Call" program that highlights and employs emerging artists from New York City. The Open Call program made 52 commissions in its inaugural year.

"Nothing more crucial to the identity and the future of this city than a thriving artistic and cultural community," De Blasio said Monday.

The Shed will serve as the centerpiece of Hudson Yards' arts scene. The art center's unique design by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the lead architect, and Rockwell Group, the collaborating architect allows the space to be used year-round regardless of the weather. During temperate seasons, The Shed can be used as an open-air concert venue that can quickly be transformed into a climate-controlled performance hall thanks to a massive shell that sits on top of the structure. The "shell" can be rolled out and installed to completely cover the outdoor venue in about five minutes. Once the shell is in place, The Shed's event hall, dubbed "The McCourt," will be capable of holding an audience of 1,250 people seated or 2,700 people standing.