Open Worlds 2025
May 2 — Nov 2, 2025
An initiative of Museum of the Moving Image, Open Worlds is an accessible, 15,500-square-foot, climate-controlled, WiFi-enabled community resource for visitors of all ages looking to convene, find creative inspiration, learn about and experience new media technologies, or participate in many diverse programming selections.
Boasting one of the largest free community spaces in Queens, this year’s Open Worlds offerings will include a wide range of free public programming from May to November, spanning themes of performance, arts conservation and accessibility, science, special effects, video gaming, and much more.
VR Experience
May 2–4
The first Open Worlds 2025 program brings a technology-focused weekend to the public. Our Media Lab will be open in the Fox Amphitheater, with experienced educators leading free VR experiences. Recommended for ages 9 and up.
Love Your Mother (Earth) Mushroom Party
Saturday, May 10
Join MoMI, the New York Mycological Society, and more special guests on Mother’s Day weekend to celebrate Mother Earth and observe the third category of life: fungi! Activities include a neighborhood walk exploring local flora; an artist-led mushroom drawing workshop; a presentation on fungal microscopy; and the New York City premiere of Fungi: Web of Life, featuring noted mycologist Merlin Sheldrake and narrated by Björk.
Open Worlds Opening Party
Saturday, May 17
2:00-6:00 p.m.
Join MoMI to celebrate the season and officially kick off Open Worlds 2025, with free gallery admission from 2:00–6:00 p.m., a DJ, complimentary cocktails courtesy of Via Carota, and a VR experience in the Fox Amphitheater.
Gaymers Pride 2025
Saturday, May 31
12:00–6:00 p.m.
To kick off Pride Month, MoMI welcomes NYC Gaymers for the 2nd annual Gaymer Pride, celebrating all aspects of gaming within the LGBTQIA+ community. Enjoy a free afternoon of panels, video games, board games, national- and NYC-based game houses, community groups, and more! NYC Gaymers Inc. empowers gamers across the intersections of orientation, identity, expression, race, and ability in order to uplift and center our most marginalized community members through education, advocacy, and the creation of safer spaces.
THING+YOU Performance
Saturday, June 7
12:00–6:00 p.m.
In conjunction with our exhibition, is this thing on?, the Museum will host an all-day, hybrid in-person and livestreamed interactive event with artists Christiphor Clary, Sarah Rothberg, Bhavik Singh, and Molly Soda, taking place throughout the Museum’s ground floor and online via thing.tube.
Fight for Your Right to Party
Friday, June 13
6:00–8:00pm
Fight for Your Right Party is a celebration of the right to vote with a focus on early voter outreach for the 2025 Primary Elections in New York City. Museum of the Moving Image is an early voting site. In celebration of Pride Month, this concert event will feature 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 any questions about the voting process.
Celebrate Juneteenth 2025
Thursday, June 19
12:00–6:00 p.m.
Join us in celebrating Juneteenth by honoring the legacy of Black musician Louis Armstrong with a day featuring jazz music by The Entrfied Band, dance performances by Edge School of the Arts, games, a film screening, animation workshop, and a talk co-presented with Louis Armstrong House Museum. Please note that gallery admission will be free from 2:00–6:00 p.m.
Salsa Night at MoMI: A Summer Celebration with NYS Latino Restaurant Association & DJ Cheeky Star
Friday, July 11 & Friday, July 18
4:00–8:00 p.m.
Get ready to spice up your summer! The New York State Latino Restaurant Association (NYSLRA) invites you to an electrifying Salsa Night at Museum of the Moving Image. This free event will feature live salsa beats by DJ Cheeky Star, professional dance lessons, and an evening filled with Latin culture, rhythm, and community spirit. Salsa originated in Cuba and Puerto Rico, blending Afro-Cuban rhythms with Spanish influences and jazz elements. The dance style gained worldwide popularity after flourishing in New York City’s vibrant Latino communities in the 1960s, evolving into a cultural movement that continues to captivate dancers across the globe. Whether you’re an experienced dancer or stepping onto the dance floor for the first time, this is your chance to learn, connect, and celebrate the passion of salsa—all for free! Open to all ages.
Bollywood Disco: Talk + Party
Friday, August 1
5:00–8:00 p.m.
Join us for a night of discussions and dance featuring legendary DJ Rekha’s Bollywood Disco. Classic numbers, live performances, film favorites, and disco grooves are remixed into bangers that will keep you dancing the night away. Don’t miss your “dance pe chance.” Preceding the dance party will be an illustrated conversation with filmmaker Saleem Nasir Gondal and critic and Film Comment Editor Devika Girish about the glorious genre of Hindi films (aka films from Bollywood, the movie industry in Mumbai) featuring tawaifs or courtesans.
Additional programs will be added as they are confirmed