Overview
- The BWAC Red Hook warehouse, which burned on Sept. 17, 2025, was destroyed along with dozens of artist studios and small businesses after a five-alarm blaze.
- Dozens of Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition members opened “One Year Later: New Work, New Perspectives” at The Whale on Sept. 17 to show new pieces and works damaged by water and mold.
- Neighboring venues stepped in after the fire, with Powerhouse Arts providing early free space and The Whale giving donated or low-cost room that has allowed BWAC to keep operating.
- Conservators triaged salvaged pieces but some works remain un-exhibitable because mold keeps returning after treatment, leaving some artists with irrecoverable losses.
- The Red Hook Business Alliance says the damaged building will be rebuilt into usable space when repairs finish, but BWAC has been told it cannot return and is still seeking a permanent home while the fire’s cause remains under investigation.