Inspired by Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition(bwac.org) and the need for exhibit space, as budget cuts and the 'powers that be' who control Snug Harbor Cultural Center (snug-harbor.org) no longer provide housing for visiting artists or rent studio space for local artists (and even discontinued the Staten Island Artist Access Gallery), The Staten Island Creative Community (StatenIslandArtists.com) worked together for four months to put together the First Annual "ART BY THE FERRY" showcase. More than a simple vanity project, the vision was to have galleries, performance space and musicians near the ferry, with publicity enough to get the 10,000 daily tourists that ride the World Famous Staten Island Ferry (siferry.com) from Manhattan to GET OFF at this end and discover that Staten Island is an interesting, exciting tourist destination! The dream has been realized by the 300 Artists and musicians, led by the vision of Joyce Goldstein, Susan Grable, Mary Bullock, Mike Shane (sicolab.com) and others with the support of Melanie Cohn, Executive Director, Council on the Art & Humanities for Staten island. COAHSI (StatenIslandArts.org). 2200 visitors came into the Galleries during the 3 day run and the exciting news was in the papers all week! (ArtByTheFerry.org)
