With spring's arrival this past Friday, warm weather is on the horizon and there is a lot of activity to enjoy here in Lincoln Square, including special events and great deals for performing arts lovers of any age. Programs at Lincoln Center are taking on new forms of event collaboration and offering special discounts, so that more audiences can enjoy music, drama, dance, and art while on a budget.

The New York Philharmonic at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza is offering a subscription based series for $35 per ticket to those under 35 years old as well as 100 free tickets on Philharmonic Free Friday nights for 13 to 26 year old patrons.

Likewise, students can purchase $16 rush tickets for select concerts and seating areas up to 10 days beforehand at www.nyphil.org/rush, or night-of, with a valid student ID, on a first come, first serve basis at the Avery Fisher Hall (soon to be David Geffen Hall) Box Office. There are also a limited number of senior rush tickets available on the day of select shows at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office.

The Metropolitan Opera at 30 Lincoln Center Plaza also announced that it would soon begin a "Fridays Under Forty" special program of events that would include discounted tickets ($60-$100), social events tied in with performances, and some later curtain times. Keep an eye out for the program!

Currently, the Metropolitan Opera has a rush ticket special for Opera fans of any age, in which a limited number of $25 tickets are available for purchase day-of for select performances. Full-time students can take advantage of the  Met Opera Students program, an enrollment based program that gives students the opportunity to purchase tickets to select performances at a special student rate.  

Whether you were born in the era of Dixieland, Bebop, Fusion or Modern, you can take advantage of a limited number of $10 Hot Seat Tickets for select Jazz at Lincoln Center concerts. Visit jazz.org/special-offers to read more about their discounts and specials including $10 off cover charges for up to two people (valid Monday-Wednesday only) at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola.

If you want to see great shows without waiting in the rush line, you can sign up for LincTix, Lincoln Center Theater's discount ticket program for people ages 21-35. LincTix is free to join and gives you access to affordable tickets -- just $32 for each new Lincoln Center Theater production at the Vivian Beaumont and Mitzi E. Newhouse Theaters. Learn more about LincTix here. 

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) has two great offers for those ages 21-39.  Young professionals can socialize with some strings by taking advantage of CMS NOW, an exclusive membership for chamber music lovers ages 21-39. Membership includes exclusive ticket prices, invitations to private events, and access to select post-concert receptions. Learn more about CMS NOW here. Chamber music lovers between the ages of 21 and 39 can also take advantage of Chamber Music 360 which entitles subscribers to three CMS concerts for only $60.

New York City Ballet offers $29 day-of tickets in select locations to anyone 29 years of age or under for select fall, winter, and spring repertory performances. (replacing the former Student Rush program) . Tickets will be sold from the time the box office opens at the David Koch Theater, located at 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, until the start of the performance. Visit on nycballet.com on April 27 for the next $29 for 29 availability update, details and eligibility information.

Beyond Lincoln Center, the American Folk Art Museum located at 2 Lincoln Square at Columbus Avenue and 66th Street has a free program titled  Families and Folk Art which is perfect for acclimating children ages 4 to 12 to art and fun. The program takes place on the first Saturday of every month from 1:00pm-2:00pm and requires pre-registration on the website, through email, or by calling 212.595.9533. The program takes children and their guardians on an interactive tour through the galleries followed by hands-on crafts inspired by items in the museum. The next program titled "Hats, Crowns, and Headdresses" is Saturday, April 4 and revolves around the exhibit "When the Curtain Never Comes Down." 

Many of the concerts at The Kaufman Music Center's Merkin Concert Hall and Ann Goodman Recital Hall have discount prices for students with a valid ID and seniors ages 62+. To see which performances are discounted you can check the concert event pages, sign up for bimonthly emails, or call the box office at 212.501.3330. Senior tickets must be purchased in person at the box office located at 129 W. 67th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. Seniors 62+ also receive a 10% discount on classes and group lessons in music, dance and theater at Kaufman Center's Lucy Moses School.  Check out kaufmanmusiccenter.org for more information on senior discounts and student discounts.