Thank You for an Amazing 2023 Spring Gala!
We are thrilled to have celebrated our unique arts organization, Coney Island USA at the Aquarium with so many friends this past Saturday night!
As the height of our season is rapidly approaching I’d like to share some ways that your generous support continues to guide us to bring art and culture to South Brooklyn.
We’ve spent the last few months refurbishing our Shooting Gallery Arts Annex. A space that has been dormant and infrequently used for the past decade has recently been transformed into a multi use arts and music venue. This coming season the space will be used for gallery shows, dance parties and of course live music.
We have commissioned an assortment of new banners from local artists that will be on display beginning on May 20, which is the opening day of the Sideshow. Some of these banners will be hanging in the newly refurbished ticket area on 12th St. Others will be on display inside the Freak Bar, on our stage, backstage and in the egress passageway from the Sideshows By The Seashore Theater.
The theater has seen a few positive changes including the newly painted stage and bleachers as well as some sound and lighting upgrades and the sideshow cast is excited to return for what we know will be another incredible few months of shows.
This year we continued collaborating with other like minded arts organizations and museums including Materials for The Arts, The Transit Museum, City Reliquary and I'm excited to announce that we've been working closely with the Universal Hip Hop Museum in securing royalty for the 41st Annual Mermaid Parade. So mark those calendars for June 17th and celebrate with us.
It's not all fun, art, engaging programming and Mermaid Parades…we completed a major plumbing project that upgraded a section of our 100+ year old pipes and in the process we managed to excavate a few 100 year old glass bottles that now have a home in the Coney Island Museum. Be sure to visit and see many newly accessioned items on display including postcards and ephemera.
We’re currently ramping up our fundraising efforts towards a huge facade project…Operating an Arts Organization out of the oldest landmarked building in the amusement district is fun but also costly.
It goes without saying that we wouldn't be able to accomplish any of these amazing things without the dedication of Coney Island USA's incredible staff, our board of directors and of course you, our friends, patrons, ticket buyers and supporters. We hope that as we continue to grow artistically, your support will continue to grow along with us.
A special thank you goes out to Bambi the Mermaid for producing and curating 25 years of Burlesque at the Beach and to Angie Pontani for being our well deserved honoree!
Here's to a great 2023 season!
See ya in Coney Island!
Adam Rinn
Artistic Director