ST. GEORGE — An arts group based in the St. George Ferry Terminal is shutting its gallery, with plans to reopen in a new luxury building in Stapleton.
Staten Island Arts will close its Culture Lounge gallery and office space inside the ferry terminal next month and move to a 1,800-square-foot spot in Urby Staten Island.
Construction in St. George associated with the New York Wheel and Empire Outlets mall have made it difficult for the group to host events, representatives said.
"As the construction has gone on in the area, it’s created difficult logistical issues like parking and safety," said Elizabeth Bennett, executive director for Staten Island Arts.
"We need to be able to serve our regular constituents better and we can do that by being in a neighborhood where the parking is better and where we can have hours that are a little flexible."
The new digs will also let the group expand its ability to rent out the space to local groups and artists, which was difficult to do in the terminal because of parking issues and lack of private bathrooms.
"When both the performers, renters, as well as the audience come here, they’ve had so much difficulty parking that it has been a factor in choosing not the rent the space," she said.
The new space will be smaller than the 2,500-square-foot gallery in the ferry terminal, but Bennett said the better parking and restaurants opening in Urby should get more people to visit.
The group doesn't have a set opening date yet, but expects to open sometime in February.
Staten Island Arts opened the Culture Lounge inside the Ferry Terminal in 2014 after being given a grant by former Borough President James Molinaro.
Aside from exhibits, the group put on a variety of events like music performances, comedy shows, film screening and artists' markets.
However, since the terminal is mainly a commuter hub, Bennett said it was difficult to get people to stop by and they sometimes acted as a de-facto information booth for tourists instead.
"The concept of being in a very central location, in terms of both Island residents and tourists, that was a great concept," she said.
"The reality is that we would need to change commuter culture in order for people to really make some time to stop by our gallery."
The group will also celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, and Bennett said the new space will be a good way to help commemorate that.
"Part of the excitement in celebrating that landmark is the fact we’re doing it in a new space in a neighborhood [on which] there are so many eyes," she said.
