New York’s the Shed, the new 200,000-square-foot cultural center dedicated to commissioning, developing, and presenting original works of art, announced today that it will open its doors on April 5. Located at the center of the Hudson River Yards development at West Thirtieth Street, the cultural organization also revealed that it will name its main building and two of its spaces in honor of Michael R. Bloomberg and Jonathan and Lizzie Tisch, the project’s major contributors.

Bloomberg gave $75 million toward the Shed’s estimated $475 million construction costs, and the Tischs gifted $27.5 million to the arts center. To date, the institution has raised more than $488 million of its capital campaign goal of $550 million, which, in addition to covering building costs, will finance start-up operational expenses and a newly launched commissioning fund.

“Lizzie and I are proud to support the construction of this exceptional building, while also providing [Alex Poots, the Shed’s artistic director and chief executive,] and his outstanding team the resources necessary to commission artists from around the world to create the most ambitious and risk-taking work possible,” said Jonathan Tisch. “He has put together a spectacular program, and our intention is to challenge others to join us to support an effort that is not only worthwhile but tremendously exciting and important for New York City and beyond.”

As part of the Shed’s inaugural season, fifty-two artists working in the disciplines of art, dance, theater, poetry, and music have been chosen to create new work, which, once completed, will be presented in the venue’s black-box theater and open-air plaza beginning in late spring.

One of the Shed’s first commissions, “Soundtrack of America,” a five-night concert series celebrating the impact of African American music on contemporary culture, will launch opening night. Conceived and directed by Turner Prize–winning filmmaker Steve McQueen, and developed with Quincy Jones, Maureen Mahon, Dion “No I.D.” Wilson, Tunji Balogun, and Greg Phillinganes, “Soundtrack of America” traces a musical “family tree” of spirituals and blues, jazz and gospel, R & B, rock ’n’ roll, house, hip-hop, and trap.

In the weeks that follow, the Shed will host performances featuring poet Anne Carson, multidisciplinary artist Björk, and street dancer Reggie Gray, also known as Regg Roc, among others, and exhibitions dedicated to Gerhard Richter, Trisha Donnelly, and Agnes Denes.

“We have built a home where established and emerging artists working in all disciplines can create new work in ways that we cannot even imagine,” Poots said. “Beginning on April 5, 2019, The Shed’s community of neighbors, New Yorkers, and visitors from around the world will come together to experience the widest range of art forms in spaces that can accommodate artists’ most inventive and ambitious ideas.”

Tickets for the initial programming of the Shed’s opening season will go on sale on February 6.