Mission and History :
The Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC, pronounced bee-wack) is a 501.c.3 non-profit corporation. Organized in 1978 by 16 artists looking for a place to exhibit, BWAC has grown to become Brooklyn's largest artist-run organization with over 500 artists exhibiting over 3000 new works to over 18,000 visitors annually. Our artist/exhibitors are the management, leadership, board and staff.
We have two synergistic missions:
- To assist emerging artists in advancing their artistic careers;
- To present the art-of-today in an easily accessible format.
For 35 years, BWAC has been exhibiting the artwork of local Brooklyn artists. Our four annual indoor exhibits and outdoor sculpture show present a wide variety of contemporary visual arts from the traditional to the experimental cutting edge. Two shows are national competitions juried from submissions from all over the USA; two are open to all local artist and one is a hybrid of both styles. BWAC recruits prestigious independent jurors to assure quality and impartial selections.
BWAC's 25,000 square foot gallery is in a Civil War-era warehouse on the Red Hook waterfront. The vista of New York Harbor, spanning the Statue of Liberty to the Verrazano Bridge is one of the best in the city. Our 18,000 annual visitors also enjoy the nearby restaurants, bars, IKEA and Fairway Market. With every medium and style of artwork represented, as well as the UnPlugged in Red Hook free weekly music performances and Saturday afternoon Screening Room programs, our shows are as spectacular as the setting.
