Social Analysis of First Wednesdays at the Bronx Cultural Corridor

The Bronx Culture Trolley tour is one of the local initiatives launched in 2002 to create cultural awareness in the outer boroughs of New York City, providing free transportation during the first Wednesday of every month, and it is considered to be among the most successful trolley routes that remain in service (Colton, 2007). The Bronx is currently undergoing an economic and cultural revival, and the purpose of this study is to examine visitors' perceptions of the event and understand their motivations to participate in South Bronx cultural events that are scheduled as part of the First Wednesdays Bronx Culture Trolley. This mixed method study presents information on a multi-venue event that complements the available literature on visitors' studies performed at museums. For this study, qualitative data was gathered through in-depth interviews and observations of three cultural organizations during selected First Wednesdays, and quantitative data was gathered with a questionnaire that visitors' voluntarily filled during observations. The cultural organizations observed were Longwood Art Gallery, Haven Arts Gallery and the Bronx Museum of the Arts. In answer to the guiding research question, I found that the main motivation for visitors to attend the Bronx Culture Trolley tour is socially driven with the aim to shape the global perception of the South Bronx as a safe area with a vibrant arts scene. In addition, these findings suggested that the arts community of the South Bronx is growing in number of artists and first-time visitors. Similarly, it also revealed that the trolley provides a safe platform for visitors unfamiliar with the area to learn about the South Bronx and experience its culture. This research provided insight into visitors' agendas and perceptions when attending a multi-venue event, integrating constructivist theories and visitors studies with the study results.