WHAT IS IT?

The Bronx Culture Trolley is a program of the Bronx Council on the Arts’ Bronx Cultural Card. The trolley was initiated in December 2002 to encourage, create and maintain a higher level of arts participation and business development along the Bronx's lower Grand Concourse while promoting the “Cultural Corridor” of the South Bronx as a tourism destination.

Running on the First Wednesdays of each month, the trolley provides a fun way to travel while giving Bronxites and tourists alike the opportunity to sample the rich cultural treasures found in the South Bronx. Riders travel via a replica of an early 20th-century trolley car to several of the area’s hottest cultural attractions, dining establishments and entertainment venues. At their discretion, passengers have the freedom to hop on and off at different stops along the route, giving them full control of their evening.

Riders are treated to art exhibits, poetry readings, live theatrical and musical performances at venues such as The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos, Pregones Theater, and The Downtown Bronx Bar & Cafe. Our increasingly popular CONVERSIONs series features selected Bronx artists in the Mott Haven area who transform their studios into short-run “phantom” galleries – exhibiting emerging visual artists, providing a platform for performing artists and screening film and video projects. The Artisans Marketplace, the trolley’s 2004 venue attraction addition, assembles Bronx immigrant craft artisans together in a craft fair atmosphere where a fine selection of hand-made goods are offered to patrons at affordable prices. 2005 saw another new trolley venue: Haven Gallery. Haven’s weekly and bi-weekly shows involve local Bronx and NYC painters, sculptors, performance artists, poets and musicians. Detailed information on each month's venue attractions can be found at www.bronxarts.org.

WHEN IS IT?
 
The Bronx Culture Trolley’s 2004/2005 season consists of the following First Wednesdays: September 1st, October 6th, November 3rd, December 1st, February 2nd, March 2nd, April 6th, May 4th, and June 1st, July 6th, and August 3rd. The trolley does not run during the months of January and September.

WHERE DO YOU PICK UP THE TROLLEY?
 
The evening begins at 5:00pm with a meet and greet reception of wine, soft drinks and hors d’oeurves at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos which is located at Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse & 149th Street (easily accessible by the IRT 2, 4 & 5 and BX1 & BX19). The special departure times from Hostos are 5:30pm, 6:30pm and 7:30pm (June 1st departure times are one-half hour later at 6:00pm, 7:00pm, and 8:00pm), making a cultural loop through the lower Grand Concourse, dropping off riders at their selected stops and picking them up at the next go-around.

IS IT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILE?
 
The Bronx Culture Trolley is wheelchair accessible.

WHAT DOES IT COST?
 
The trolley ride and admission to participating venues along its route are free. Optional cost to passengers is for food, beverages and souvenirs they may choose to purchase along the way.

FUNDING

The Bronx Culture Trolley is made possible with funding from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Deutsche Bank Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, the Bronx Delegation of the City Council, Councilman Jose M. Serrano and Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión, Jr.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
 
Contact Phil Cardone at 718-931-9500 x33, trolley@bronxarts.org, or visit www.bronxarts.org.