| A four-story art center is planned in The East Village at Broadway and Long Beach Boulevard. It will be a work space for 70 artists to create, display and sell their artwork. Visitors will be able to view artists creating as the center is open to the public. This will offer a chance for artists to be seen by many new customers. It will be an excellent site to learn about art, and meet artists in person. People of all ages will come to see an ever changing gallery of creations. "In the center, there will be an auditorium where glass blowing, welding and other 'industrial' arts are done" said Steve Eliker, chairman of the project. Stair-stepped platforms will allow visitors to view the artists easily. This space could also be used for lectures, demonstrations, and educational programs. With about 40,000 square feet, the center will be impressive. The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria Virginia is the model for this project. Alexandria is just across the Potomac from Washington, DC During W.W.II, torpedoes were built in a large factory on the river. After the war, the building was left vacant. It was in a neighborhood of other old factories and run-down old buildings. In the mid 1980s, artists got permission to use the building to create and sell art. Over time, the "factory" became a center for local and leading artists. The old buildings nearby got fixed-up, as restaurants, hotels and art galleries opened. This revived one of America's oldest cities, making it a "must see neighborhood" in Virginia. For these reasons, the Art Exchange is planned to totally change Long Beach for the better. A feasibility study has been commissioned by the RDA (Redevelopment Agency) to investigate the cost of the project and research financing. The East Village Association is raising money for this project. The East Village Oktoberfest, on October 11, 2003, will be our annual fund raiser. The money will be used to match grants and pay for the building. "Over the coming years, we need to raise a lot of money and get this project going" said Eliker. |
