You are reading

Museum of the Moving Image to launch ‘Open Worlds’ a free community hub in western Queens

(Thanassi Karageorgiou/MoMI)

Apr. 19, 2024 By Czarinna Andres

The Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) in Astoria has announced the launch of “Open Worlds,” a groundbreaking initiative to transform the museum into one of the largest free community hubs in western Queens.

Executive Director Aziz Isham announced Tuesday that Open Worlds will provide a 15,500-square-foot space for creativity, collaboration, and learning. The space will be accessible to all age groups and features climate control and free WiFi.

(Thanassi Karageorgiou/MoMI)

The official opening of Open Worlds is scheduled for May 18, with a celebration starting at 4 p.m. The event will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony with notable attendees such as Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. Festivities will include performances by DJ Stretch Armstrong, a VR demonstration, and a unique sound-responsive video installation by artist Joshua Davis.

(Thanassi Karageorgiou/MoMI)

The initiative will operate during museum hours until October. The space will also be used for free events focusing on new media technologies, with themes ranging from content creation to video gaming and special effects to Pride and accessibility.

“The goal of Open Worlds is to remove the cost barrier, ensuring that all New Yorkers have the opportunity to engage with innovative technologies and express their creativity in a welcoming environment,” Isham remarked during the announcement,” Isham said.

The stunning lobby of the Museum of the Moving Image stems from a redesign and expansion in 2011. Leeser Architecture. Credit: Photo: Peter Aaron/Esto. Courtesy of Museum of the Moving Image

The Open Worlds free programming will feature artist talks, music performances, professional development panels, trivia nights, and more.

This initiative will also allow visitors free access to multiple areas within the museum, including the Hearst Lobby, Founders Hall, William Fox Amphitheater, and the George S. Kaufman Courtyard.

The museum is located at 36-01 35th Ave. in Astoria. Its operating hours are Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m., Friday from 2 to 8 p.m., and Saturday to Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For further details about MoMI and its offerings, please visit movingimage.us.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

One Comment

Click for Comments 
Randi Finn

While making AMMI free to all is a truly worthwhile idea, one has to wonder why the museum is only open 6 hours a day, 4 days a week.

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Hate Crimes Task Force investigating bomb threats against Mamdani: NYPD

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force launched a probe into multiple death threats made against Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani after his district office at 24-08 32nd St. in Astoria received four expletive-filled phone voicemails, on various dates, making threatening anti-Muslim statements by an unknown individual, including a threat to blow up his car.

The calls were made from an untraceable number and labeled the mayoral candidate a “terrorist who is not welcome in New York or America” in a message phoned in on Wednesday morning.

Queens Defenders founder charged with stealing nonprofit funds as second scandal unfolds

The founder of the Queens Defenders and her husband have lawyered up after they were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the non-profit organization.

Former Queens Defenders executive director Lori Zeno, 64, surrendered Wednesday at the Brooklyn federal courthouse. Zeno was arraigned on an indictment charging her and Rashad Ruhani, 55, with wire fraud conspiracy, theft, money laundering conspiracy and other crimes.