Can anyone help direct me to some of the smaller, independent art galleries [particularly contemporary art] in NYC. My wife and I are visiting in October [end] to spend a week checking out what NYC has to offer in the way of art galleries [cultural exchange type thing with North West Arts Board].

Obviously the usual galleries and museums will be visited but we're also interested in the smaller setups.

In the UK London and Manchester have small areas where artists tend to congregate and I am hoping the same may be true for NYC.

Many thanks

Dean

Spring Street, Prince Street, Mercer Street, and Broadway between Houston and Broome Street have many many galleries. Small, c0-coperative, all kinds. Try a site like www.newyorkled.com
they might have more specifics for you.
Enjoy your visit!

http://www.artseensoho.com/

Here is another site that I found for you, artseen in soho!

When you get in, pick up a copy of the New Yorker, New York Magazine, or Time Out NY--they'll all have listings of galleries, from the usual to the obscure. One area that has a ton of independent galleries and is interesting to explore is Chelsea, from 9th Ave to the West End Highway, 27th or so and below. There are also several good restaurants in the area (Bottino, Pepe Giallo, Red Cat) and it's a fun part of town because it's so UN-touristy.

Oh, and you'll definitely notice that artists and galleries tend to cluster--they also head where the rents are cheaper, which is why the area of Chelsea I described has become popular. Now, even some big names (Pace, for one) are over there.