LONG ISLAND CITY — Take a ride on the artistic side.
A group of cultural organizations in western Queens is launching a free shuttle bus service that will cart visitors to four of the neighborhood's best-known art institutions amid cutbacks on 7 train service, organizers announced Monday.
The LIC Art Bus will run on Saturday and Sunday afternoons starting May 10 through Sept. 14, starting at Socrates Sculpture Park and then stopping at The Noguchi Museum, SculptureCenter and MoMA PS1.
The bus, launched with support from philanthropists Shelley and Donald Rubin, seats 25 people and---- will be open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis.
"Long Island City is already home to a rich cultural corridor, and the LIC Art Bus — free to all — will make it easier for visitors to experience the art offerings the neighborhood is known for," Socrates director John Hatfield said in a statement.
The bus was started in part to address transportation issues affecting Long Island City, according to a statement, including several planned weekend service disruptions taking place this year on the local 7 train line.
Both Socrates Sculpture Park and The Noguchi Museum are located on Vernon Boulevard, almost a mile from the nearest subway station. The MTA recently announced that it will begin testing out weekend service in June on the Q103 bus, which runs along the Queens waterfront and passes both institutions.
"Transportation has long been a challenge for people to experience the uniquely engaging offerings of Long Island City," Jenny Dixon, director of The Noguchi Museum, said in a statement.
"We tip our hat to Socrates and Shelley and Donald Rubin for enabling us to expand our audience and thus our reach."
For a full schedule and more information on the LIC Arts Bus, visit Socrates Sculpture Park's website.
