hELLO® is an innovative, community-building vision for a beachfront wellness, arts, music & cultural events mecca on an undiscovered beach 45 minutes from Manhattan. It's a secret shore that time forgot; a raw, nautical town with a rich history that's easily accessible by public transportation with distant views of the City's skyline. Blessed with retro amusement and water parks--and 2 miles of
uninterrupted beach--this diamond in the rough has found its calling as a magnet for cultural pilgrims on a global scale. Having persevered through Sandy's devastation, the town has committed itself to developing this vision and providing the necessary infrastructure, services and permits. The town's leadership has recognized that creative freedom and self-regulation are integral to the project's success--for example by allowing art installations, fireplay and overnight camping. In the Summer of 2015, Gratitude--a celebrated production company at the heart of NYCs participatory art and music vanguard--brought this vision to fruition beyond our wildest expectations. The town government worked closely with Gratitude and in only a few months this ambitious undertaking was made into a reality.
'Summer Dreams', a 3-day art and music festival on hELLO Beach was nothing short of an epiphany www.migratewith.us. There was an art exhibit on a boat participants had to swim to; music camps you could dance to (shades of full moon festivals); and pyrotechnic installations you could chill in (don't mind the fire oozing across the ceiling or being unceremoniously spit out the top while you drink your martini). Most participants stayed in the amazing tent village, each avenue a kaleidoscope of creative, participatory microcosms (overnight camping was a big draw for this roughly 2,000-person exploratory production). Gratitude Migration became a major success for three years, being voted as one of the top festivals in the world. They ended their amazing three-year run, but hELLO Beach and its town is open for more events. At last, the promise of an open, accessible, social and creative space.vSo where is this magical beach?
