Bronx culture Trolley Fact sheet

WHAT IS IT?
The Bronx Culture Trolley is a project of the South Bronx Cultural Corridor. 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.


Making a cultural loop through the lower Grand Concourse and in other sections of the Bronx, it provides an innovative way to travel free while giving Bronxites and tourists alike the opportunity to sample several of the area’s hottest cultural attractions, dining establishments and entertainment venues on the first Wednesday evening of the month except January and September  (and on select Saturdays). Riders travel via a replica of an early 20th-century trolley car, and passengers have the freedom to hop on and off at different stops along the route.


Regular attractions include art exhibits, poetry readings, film screenings, and live theatrical, musical, comedy, and dance performances at such venues as Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos, Hostos Center for Arts & Culture, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Pregones Theater, BronxArtSpace, LDR Studio Gallery, and the Bruckner Bar & Grill.


Special trolley nights include unique bronxArtworks creations – novelty items, arts & crafts, art cards, ceramics, jewelry, and more – all hand-crafted by Bronx artists. Trolley nights have also included tours of local artists' studios and have expanded to such cultural Hunts Point hot spots as the Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance and The POINT.

Trolley riders are occasionally treated to a “Works-in-Motion” performance on board the trolley. Past performances featured dancers, music, Shakespeare sonnets, a pirate high-jacking, puppets, and theatrical readings.


WHEN IS IT?
The First Wednesdays Bronx Culture Trolley
runs on the first Wednesday evening of every month, (except in the months of January and September).

Remaining First Wednesdays of the 2011-2012 season are: June 6 & Aug 1. This year, July 4 falls on the first Wednesday, so the trolley will not run on that day.

2012-2013 First Wednesdays are: Oct 3, Nov 7, Dec 5, Feb 6, Mar 6, Apr 3, May 1, Jun 5, Jul 3, and Aug 7.

Culture Trolley Saturdays, although not running in the 2011-2012 trolley season, offer unique programming and run during the day on select Saturdays in different sections of the Bronx. Culture Trolley Saturdays offer Annual Mott Haven Open Artist Studio Tours, Viva Cultura! Celebrating Puerto Rican Heritage in the Bronx, a seasonal Holly Jolly Trolley, and more.



WHERE DO YOU PICK UP THE TROLLEY?
First Wednesdays
begins at 5:00pm with a meet and greet reception with 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 2, 4 & 5 trains and the BX1 & BX19 buses). The trolley departs from Hostos at 5:30pm, 6:30pm and 7:30pm, 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.

Culture Trolley Saturdays will start at different locations depending on programming.



IS IT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILE?

The Bronx Culture Trolley vehicle and many venues are 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.


TROLLEY RIDERSHIP

Over 5,000 people have ridden the Bronx Culture Trolley since its initial run. Over 10,000 people have enjoyed free art exhibits, poetry readings, film screenings, and live theatrical, musical, comedy, and dance performances at more than 25 participating cultural venues.

 

select current and recent venues

bronxArtworks
Hostos Community College Lobby
450 Grand Concourse

(near 149th Street)

Bronx, NY 10451
718-401-9558

BronxArtSpace
305 East 140th Street

Bronx NY 10454
718-401-8144

Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance
842 Barretto Street (between Garrison & Lafayette Avenues)

Bronx, NY 10474
718-842-5223

Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse

(at 165 Street)

Bronx, NY 10456
718-681-6000

Bruckner Gallery

Bruckner Bar & Grill
1 Bruckner Blvd,

Bronx, NY 10454
718-665-2001

Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture
Hostos Community College
450 Grand Concourse at 149 Street

Bronx, NY 10451
718-518-4455

LDR Studio Gallery
137 Alexander Avenue, Suite 10 (4th floor), Bronx, NY 10454
917-558-2389

Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos
Hostos Community College
450 Gran
d Concourse

(near 149th Street)

Bronx, NY 10451
718-518-6728

The POINT
940 Garrison Avenue

(at Manida Avenue)

Bronx, NY 10474
718-542-4139

Pregones Theater
571 Walton Avenue
(between 149th & 150th Streets)

Bronx, NY 10451
718-585-1202


Sweetwaters Bar & Grill
2576 Third Avenue
Bronx, NY 10454
718-292-9470

 

 

 

 


 

 

Bronx Culture Trolley updates




For additional information

about the Bronx Culture Trolley, email Bronx Culture Trolley.

 


ccc

The Little Trolley That Did...
includes a brief history of the trolley's first 50 rides.

 


Bronx Culture Trolley

in the news

04/13/10 Daily News:

"Take a Ticket To Pride: Culture Trolley Offers Boro's Best"

 


 

“The Bronx Culture Trolley is widely considered the most successful of the city’s trolley routes”

Center for an Urban Future

August 2007

After research on all of the cultural trolleys in the city’s boroughs, our First Wednesdays Bronx Culture Trolley received a very impressive review.

view the Bronx Culture Trolley

excerpt from full report.

view the full 22-page report.

 


The Bronx Culture Trolley, a program of the Bronx Council on the Arts’ Bronx Cultural Card and the Bronx Tourism Council, is made possible with funding from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund/Stimulating Place-Based Revitalization Venture, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Department of Small Business Services Ave NYC Program, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Bronx Delegation of the City Council, and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

 

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