qax 2010: 1 borough, 4 days, along the 7 train

Queens Council on the Arts is pleased to present the return of the Queens Art Express in 2010.

Now in its second year, this upcoming spring festival (Thursday, June 10th-Sunday, June 13th) will feature performances, exhibitions, art events and great places to eat in the unique cultural communities along the route of the No. 7 train.

“(Queens Art Express)…showcases the coming of age of Queens as a hotbed of art – especially along the No. 7 line.” New York Times

Look out for the ArtXPhone in the spring of 2010:

Thanks to invaluable support from the Rockefeller Foundation and the  Metropolitan Transportation Agency, commuters, cultural tourists and the arts curious can now take an ArtXphone tour on the Queens Art Express through some of the most eclectic and artistic neighborhoods in Queens from Flushing to Long Island City. The ArtXphone will also connect diverse communities of artists, cultural sites and local businesses in creating unique experiences for people to enjoy.

Call the ArtXphone to hear messages from local artists and people who love their pocket of Queens about what to see and where to eat.

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ARTFUL BUSINESS:

We will be building in a new initiative, Artful Business, into this year’s Queens Art Express. Artful Business is a targeted program to benefit small, local retailers and artists in Queens, two population segments particularly affected by the economic downturn.

Through a series of hands-on training sessions and networking events, we will work with small-business owners to further develop creative tools and connections needed to host art exhibits and performances in their establishments, the added cultural value of which attracts new customers and supports local emerging artists. Last year’s event enjoyed enormous marketing impact to over 450,000 cable viewers and over 400,000 subway riders resulting in a marked awareness of Queens as a vibrant cultural destination with surrounded by eclectic and thriving local businesses .  Over 15,000 commuters and cultural visitors attended the Queens Art Express enjoying art, exploring unique restaurants and cultural markets. This year, we have already begun planning public art projects, collaborative street fairs, planning sessions, artist/business workshops and online marketing initiatives (text/voicemail campaigns, cellphone neighborhood tours, online coupon sites) with local business groups and BIDS along the No. 7 train, from Flushing to LIC.

Artful Business will integrate a broad cross section of Queens businesses that reflects the ever-changing diversity of the borough. QCA continually reaches out to businesses by partnering with local Business Improvement Districts, Chambers of Commerce across Queens, and merchant associations.

THE BENEFITS OF THE ARTXPHONE AND ARTFUL BUSINESS:

By doing “business as unusual,” local retailers attract new patrons that are both customers and cultural consumers. By bringing together artists and businesses on the Queens Art Express, the ArtXPhone and Artful Business:

* builds innovative relationships among diverse communities,

* strengthens businesses with creative strategies,

* provides Queens artists with venues for sharing their work, and

* offers residents and visitors easy access to an enriching experience of cultural commerce.

This broad-based, collaborative and inclusive initiative positions Queens business community corridors as desirable destination sites for art and business during Queens Art Express events. With increased funding, QCA will be able to expand Artful Business to an additional 50 – 60 businesses that are clustered around the spine of the No. 7 line, also known as “the International Express” .

Get the inside scoop on the Queens Art Express and rub shoulders with emerging artists in Flushing art galleries, hop on the train to enjoy Indian pastries and tea in Jackson Heights, stop and shop in a street fair in Sunnyside and Corona – with the ArtXphone and a Metrocard.

The Queens Art Express invites you to explore a world of art in a single borough, Queens.

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See LICmagazine’s recent video profile on Queens Art Express, Queens Council on the Arts, and exhibitions celebrating the anniversary of the Queensborough Bridge. To read the full article go to the licmagazine web site.