New York Live Arts has announced the schedule of its third annual Live Ideas festival, S K Y - Force and Wisdom in America Today, taking place April 15–19, 2015. Curated by Laurie Anderson in conjunction with New York Live Arts' Artistic Director Bill T. Jones, the 2015 Live Ideas festival combines the arts and social issues, activating the New York City community to creatively question the direction of modern culture. Presenting more than 25 events via an array of music, dance, newly commissioned poetry, film, discussion, and a late-night lounge, S K Y - Force and Wisdom in America Today features Laurie Anderson, Deborah Hay, Hal Willner, Vito Acconci, Pauline Oliveros and IONE, Reverend Billy, John Zorn, Anne Carson, and Master Ren as well as the work of renowned artists including Lou Reed, Julian Schnabel, John Cage, and Arvo Pärt.

"In the United States we have traditionally valued freedom, social justice and a special kind of exuberant confidence. So now I find myself paradoxically exhilarated and depressed by living in contemporary America," said Anderson. "As effective social action becomes increasingly more difficult in a society that is deeply divided, unjust and often toxic, it's urgent to question our direction and ethics. I am both excited and honored to be collaborating with Live Arts on the third installment of Live Ideas. Spring is a time for change, for jumping up and heading out. I hope that, through the many wonderful events in this festival, we can start this journey with some fanfare."

"Live Ideas provides an opportunity for our growing community to question the past, present, and future of the culture at large," said Jones. "This year's Curator, visionary artist Laurie Anderson, suggested 'The sky' as our theme and we couldn't agree more heartedly. The sky—a multidimensional symbol of aspiration, vastness, change, threat and now information storage—is a fitting image for this year's festival. Through performance, dialogue and practice, we look forward to challenging and inspiring the larger public to think and act. We hope you'll join us."

The festival includes an opening conversation between Anderson and Jones; a noon-time series examining Live Ideas' overarching theme of "force and wisdom in America today" and featuring an array of artists including writer and documentary filmmaker Timothy Ferris and others; a film series featuring works by Julian Schnabel, Chris Marker, and more; an early-stage look into Hay and Anderson's new collaboration for the Cullberg Ballet, Figure A Sea; Arvo Pärt: Journeys in Silence, a day-long immersion—through music, lectures and film—into the stillness and depth of Pärt's powerful music and work, curated by Peter Bouteneff of the Arvo Pärt Project at St. Vladimir's Seminary; two original, Live Ideas commissions by poet Anne Carson and choreographer Beth Gill; an evening with Hal Willner and Chloe Webb celebrating the words and music of two generations of New York writers—Kathy Acker and Lou Reed—boasting rarely heard works by Lou Reed and featuring a band of New York's finest musicians; a Tai Chi demonstration by Master Ren to Lou Reed's DRONES; John Cage's Lecture on the Weather, directed by Thomas Bartlett; and original compositions written, arranged and directed by John Zorn.

"We are delighted to be presenting 2015's Live Ideas festival with the curatorial vision of the brilliant Laurie Anderson," said Jean Davidson, Executive Director and CEO of New York Live Arts. "Live Ideas has become an invigorating opportunity for Live Arts to unite brilliant thinkers and our ever-growing public in a creative examination of big ideas."

Launched in April 2013 by New York Live Arts, Live Ideas is an annual arts and ideas festival offering artists of all disciplines an opportunity to engage audiences and come together for lively discussion and exploration under a new theme each year. The first edition of Live Ideas, titled The Worlds of Oliver Sacks, paid tribute to the acclaimed neurologist. The 2014 iteration, James Baldwin, This Time!, launched "The Year of Baldwin," a year-long, City-wide celebration of Baldwin's work in conjunction with various institutions.

Single tickets are on sale now for New York Live Arts members on January 26, 2015, and to the general public on February 16, 2015. For details and tickets, visit newyorklivearts.org.