Museums & Institutions - Bethel, New York, United States
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts inspires, educates and empowers individuals through the arts and humanities by presenting a diverse selection of culturally-rich performances, popular artists, and community and educational programming. Located 90 miles north-west of New York City in the Sullivan Catskills, at the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, NY, the lush 800-acre campus includes a Pavilion Stage amphitheater with seating for 15,000, an intimate 440-seat indoor Event Gallery, the award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods and a Conservatory for arts education programming. Following the opening of the Pavilion, The Museum at Bethel Woods, chartered by the Regents of the State of New York, opened to the public in June 2008. It immerses visitors in the story of the societal evolution of the 1960s, connecting visitors to the roots of today's freedom of expression and the resurgent human spirit that defined the politics, music, art, and societal issues of that remarkable and challenging decade. The Museum takes visitors deep into the history and extraordinary impact of the 1960s, leading into and through the Woodstock festival experience.As stewards of the historic site, the organization is committed not only to preservation, but also to ensuring that visitors understand and explore the impact of the social, political, and cultural experiences that emerged from the 1960s. The Museum, as well as various educational programs, helps people appreciate how those experiences are inextricably linked to the values and freedom of culture expression and appreciation that we enjoy today.The Museum continues to expand programming and learning opportunities each year with changing special exhibits and moving film and lecture series.