Despite a marketing budget of zero dollars, more than 200 people turned out for the first Art Walk in the East this past Saturday night.A group of St George’s artists, led by Ami Zanders, organised the event themselves using social media and word of mouth as their main marketing tools.Not only was the event a resounding success, but Ms Zanders said it brought dozens of artists to the Old Town to display their paintings, arts and crafts; Everything from bay grape leaf angels to cedar ornaments, oil and water colour paintings, jewellery, second hand finds and Bermudiana art prints was on sale in stores, special tables and inside restaurants. There was even a live performance by the local band Heroine Chic (Michele Morfitt and guitarist Tommy Loving.)The St George’s Artists Alliance was hoping the event would help solidify the Old Town as a growing haven for Bermudian artists and as an alternative arts scene with a planned tattoo shop and reiki centre soon to open.“The Art Walk turned out way better than I could have ever imagined,” Ms Zanders said yesterday. “There were hundreds of people. I’ve never seen St George’s so busy! The event felt very communal, fun and safe.”Ms Zanders said she wanted to thank the following who volunteered their time to help put the event together: Michelle Wales, Milton Hill, Christopher Grimes, Chris Dawson, Gary Macpherson, Ed Silvia, Belinda Tartaglia, Scarlet Pottinger, Amanda Wilson, Calix Smith, Davika Hill and Mark Henderson.In addition, she said the following helped contribute to the art walk by opening their stores or displaying their work: Summer Wood, Dany Pen, Maya Furbert, Tranquil Hair and Beauty, The Book Cellar, Heidi Cowen, Stephen West, Michelle Lindo, Lisa Greene, Lloyd Webb, Emma Ingham, East End Flower Alley, White Horse, Polaris, Tavern by the Sea, Wahoo, Seaglass Art by Kelly Diel, CV Café, Endemic Art Collective, Chris Dawson Studio, Needles Etc, Anne Kermode and her St. George’s Prep P.5 class, Bermuda Memories, Ronnie Chameau, Joan Espinall, and the St George’s Police Department, with special thanks to PC L Smith.“This was an all grass-roots style event,” Ms Zanders said. “There was no funding for it whatsoever. We just had faith that it was going to work and ran with it.“Artist Chris Dawson held his gallery’s grand opening during the event.Dozens filled his studio on Hunter’s Wharf throughout the evening to view his portraits and other oil paintings.“A big thank you to all who came out and supported the opening of Chris Dawson Fine Art Studio,” he said. “It was a very successful opening and a great night for the Town of St George’s. A big shout out to Ami Zanders for Art Walk in the East. A brilliant idea! I can definitely see this happening again in the near future.”Ms Zanders, a St Georgian, returned to the Island two and a half years ago after studying fine art at Kean University in New Jersey.She was hoping to eventually start an art co-operative in St George’s, but in the meantime, decided an Art Walk event along the lines of what many major cities around the world offer, was long overdue.