Update: It's official, the shows will be held at Lincoln Center starting in September of 2010.
"As our society is embracing the concept of change, the time has come for us too to change," said IMG Fashion Senior Vice President Fern Mallis. "With our new home at Lincoln Center, we can re-invent, invigorate and reinforce fashion's rightful place alongside the many creative disciplines, from music and dance, to opera and film, which also call world renowned Lincoln Center home."
The rumors have been squashed in the past, and then 2010 just seemed so far away, but it's looming. After 15 years Fashion Week may be moving from Bryant Park to Lincoln Center.
Apparently the park has been complaining that the more than 100,000 guests to the tents erected for the event restrict public access to the park. (Duh. But doesn't it also bring lots of PR?)
It seems two designers have told The New York Times that organizers said the new location would be Lincoln Center, though producer IMG hasn't commented.
This is basically a continuation of a dispute that started in 2006 when the Bryant Park Corporation tried to stop the shows from being held there so they could operate a skating rink throughout the winter. But after Anna Wintour and her designer friends got to Mayor Bloomberg, the park relented.
Guess it was just a temporary fix though.
What would moving to Lincoln Center mean? Well, there would probably still be the usual tents. Either on the plaza at the Center in conjunction with use of nearby buildings, or on opposite sides of the New York State Theater with a corridor between.
For now, this means just one thing. Enjoy the park while we can!
[Source]
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