NEW YORK, NY.- As a global capital of art and commerce, New York City is home to the world’s most prestigious galleries, art fairs, auction houses, dealers, corporate buyers, and collectors. Some of the art world’s most significant museums, foundations, not-for-profits, and art schools also call the city home. For many observers, these established groups are enough to ensure the city’s relevance in the art world. But what about the artists? New York’s visual fine artists have faced persistent challenges, and the current economy only exacerbates the problem. Recent surveys indicate that 68% of visual artists make less than $40,000 annually, and 51% of artists report a decline in art income compared to last year. To adapt, artists have left former havens like SoHo and the Lower East Side for DUMBO and Long Island City. Unfortunately, artists in those areas now face rising rents and dwindling opportunities to create, to show, and to make a living as artists. Liv