New York's Floating Concert Venue, Bargemusic, is Moving to Dry Land
The original nineteenth-century barge will be scrapped, but the organization will continue and is aiming to procure a new boat
After hosting more than 5,000 concerts throughout its history, Bargemusic — New York City's floating concert venue — has returned to dry land for the final time. The nineteenth-century barge was towed to a Staten Island shipyard, where it will be scrapped for good.
Following a recent assessment by experts, the barge was declared unsafe for the public and impossible to restore. However, the organization will continue to present concerts. In the short term, these will take place at Brooklyn Bridge Park, while Bargemusic searches for a new boat that can serve for the next fifty years or more.
Bargemusic was founded in the 1950s by Olga Bloom, a concert violinist. Using cherrywood panels from an old Staten Island ferry and corralling a large group of volunteers, she set about transforming the coffee barge into a workable venue — adding benches, shelves, and a brick fireplace.
The barge was a beloved venue for many years and served as a focal point for the local community. Violinist Mark Peskanov, who is Bargemusic's Artistic Director, envisions the procurement of a boat with more modern, practical touches including facilities such as dressing rooms — while staying true to Bloom's original spirit.
"We're calling it Bargemusic's Chapter 2," said DeBorge Pinnington, a board member, singer, and composer. "Our biggest donors and foundations are extremely excited. They know that finding the right boat takes time, and it's important to continue the concerts. After all, the important thing is the performances."
"There was no path to remain a floating concert hall," said Mark Peskanov, Bargemusic's Artistic Director. "Marine experts told me we would be much more likely to become a submarine. Salt water destroys everything and finally it destroyed the hull, and even if you put millions of dollars into it, you could never restore it properly. You don't want to let it go, but this is public safety."
february 2025
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