WiFi? Yes! AC? Yes! Free? Yes! Huge? Yes!
The Museum of the Moving Image’s Open Worlds 2025 begins on Friday, May 2. It runs until Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Located on MoMI’s first floor lobby and courtyard, the community center is an estimated 15,500 square feet with a green space and a concession. A safe spot to hang out, it’s also a de facto artist colony for people of all ages to convene, find creative inspiration, learn, and experience new media technologies.
Attendance is always free, and registration is never required.
Open Worlds will also host screenings, artist talks, live music, professional development panels, trivia contests, and other events. A list follows. (Other events will be added as they are scheduled.)
May 2 to May 4
VR Experience
Technology is the main focus of this three-day weekend. Fox Amphitheater’s Media Lab is open with experienced educators leading free VR experiences. Recommended for ages 9 and up.
May 10
Love Your Mother (Earth) Mushroom Party
The New York Mycological Society and other special guests celebrate Mother Earth and Mother’s Day with help from the third category of life: fungi. Activities include a neighborhood walk to explore local flora, an artist-led mushroom drawing workshop, a presentation on fungal microscopy, and the NYC premiere of Fungi: Web of Life, featuring mycologist Merlin Sheldrake and narrated by Björk.
May 17
Open Worlds Opening Party
The kick off ceremony mixes free gallery admission from 2 pm to 6 pm with a DJ, complimentary cocktails courtesy of Via Carota, and a VR experience in the Fox Amphitheater.
May 31
Gaymers Pride 2025
On the eve of Pride Month, MoMI hosts the second annual Gaymer Pride festival, celebrating all aspects of gaming within the LGBTQIA+ community. To run from noon until 6 pm, the free event features panels, video games, board games, national- and NYC-based game houses, and community groups.
June 7
THING+YOU Performance
As previously mentioned in It’s In Queens, THING+YOU is an ongoing exhibition at MoMI. The museum hosts an all-day, hybrid, in-person, and livestreamed interactive event with artists Christiphor Clary, Sarah Rothberg, Bhavik Singh, and Molly Soda. It takes place throughout the ground floor and online via thing.tube.
June 13
Fight for Your Right to Party
To run from 6 pm to 8 pm, this concert celebrates Pride Month and universal suffrage. MoMI, which is an early voting site, hosts performances by members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including drag queen Freeda Kulo, musician Jerome Jordan, and rapper Audry Funk. Sunnyside Community Services will be available to answer questions about the voting process.
June 19
Juneteenth 2025
Scheduled for noon to 6 pm, this event features Jazz with The Entrfied Band, dance by Edge School of the Arts, games, a film screening, an animation workshop, and a talk co-presented with Louis Armstrong House Museum. Plus, gallery admission is free from 2 pm to 6 pm.
July 11 and July 18
Salsa Night
The New York State Latino Restaurant Association presents Salsa Night from 4 pm to pm. This free event features DJ Cheeky Star, professional dance lessons, and Latin culture, rhythm, and community spirit. Open to all ages.
Aug. 1
Bollywood Disco: Talk + Party
A night of discussions and dance with DJ Rekha’s Bollywood Disco. Classic numbers, live performances, film favorites, and disco grooves are remixed into bangers to keep the party dancing from 5 pm to 8 pm. An illustrated conversation with filmmaker Saleem Nasir Gondal and critic and Film Comment Editor Devika Girish about Hindi films (aka Bollywood) happens beforehand.
Open Worlds will operate during regular museum hours, and MoMI is located at 36-01 35th Ave. in Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District.
Image: Museum of the Moving Image