Lincoln Center President Resigns After 1-Year Tenure

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Lincoln Center president Debora Spar resigned from her position at the world-renowned performing arts institution Friday, Lincoln Center officials announced. She became Lincoln Center's 10th president in March 2017 after a nine-year tenure as president of Barnard College.

Spar cited a desire to "refocus on other interests" in a statement announcing her resignation Friday. Lincoln Center officials said she plans to return to the world of academia.

"Earlier this morning, I formally resigned my position as President and CEO of Lincoln Center. The advancement of the arts is a cause very close to my heart, both on a personal and professional level, but I feel compelled at this moment to refocus on other interests," Spar said in a statement to her staff.

Spar's tenure at Lincoln Center was short, but it wasn't uneventful. Under her leadership, the performing arts institution announced plans to reverse course on a $500 million renovation project to improve the David Geffen Hall and discontinued its summer Lincoln Center Festival in order to focus resources on its popular Mostly Mozart Festival.

Lincoln Center board members wished Spar well in her return to academics.

"During her time with us, Debora fostered strong relationships among all of the Lincoln Center campus constituencies and led efforts to develop a new strategic plan for our organization. She has been a champion for expanding community engagement and cultivating new audiences. We are grateful for these and her many other contributions," Katherine Farley, chair of the Lincoln Center board of directors, said in a statement.

Russell Granet will take over as Lincoln Center's interim president active immediately, the center announced in a press release. Granet joined Lincoln Center's staff in 2012 and has been "a trusted member of the senior leadership team," according to a press release.

"To be entrusted with this responsibility is the highest honor of my career," Granet said in a statement. "I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Board during this transition to support our artistic endeavors and keep our major projects moving forward."

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