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All the United States New York State New York City Manhattan Babycastles
Babycastles is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

Babycastles

A DIY art gallery/music venue/lecture hall dedicated to video game culture.

New York, New York

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Kris
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At Babycastles pop up: a 3D Pacman game made by Keita Takahashi.   Clement Shimizu
A New York Stock Exchange video game at Babycastles.   Christina Xu
“The Universe is a Small Hat” at Babycastles in Chelsea.   lampbane / Atlas Obscura User
Babycastles game exhibit at Showpaper Gallery   Christina Xu
Babycastles at Showpaper Gallery   Christina Xu
An art piece at Babycastles.   BrillLyle
Artwork at Babycastles.   BrillLyle
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About

Is it an arcade? Is it an art gallery? Babycastles is actually both: This nonprofit focuses on exhibiting homemade arcade cabinets and custom-made art games. It's a museum where you're actually encouraged to not just touch, but actually play the exhibits.

The Babycastles art collective began in 2010, roaming between locations throughout New York but usually showcasing events and exhibits at Silent Barn in Brooklyn. After settling into a permanent Chelsea home in 2014, the collective could host musical performances as well as more frequent revolving art shows.

The concerts included all genres—lots of electronic and chiptune acts, but sometimes more obscure, self-proclaimed "nerdy" acts like The Doubleclicks too. It's not just music either. The venue puts on poetry readings and live theater as well, like the immersive fantasy musical The Universe is a Small Hat. To top it off, Babycastles functions as a coworking space during daytime hours.

The art collective extends itself throughout the city in the form of pop-up installations called "Lil' Babycastles." They keep with the mission of promoting game culture, in all its mutations, through art and design.

This theme remains Babycastles' bread and butter, with a popular game of the month lecture series and rotating exhibitions. The collective also does collaborations, like a Gaza-inspired exhibit done with Art Palestine International or a collection of games created by students at Parsons School of Design. Game themes have included sex, race, feminism, Islam, and more lighthearted subjects like roleplaying as a mechanic.

Related Tags

Design Video Games Museums And Collections Art Arcades Retro Tech Music Venues

Know Before You Go

Babycastles is located on 14th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue. The closest trains are the 1/2/3 and L on 7th or the F, M, and PATH train to New Jersey on 6th. It's also quite walkable from Union Square, where you can catch many more trains like the N/Q/R/W and the 4/5/6. The gallery is open for free coworking hours every Monday at 6 p.m., and daytime hours change with each exhibition. Check the Babycastles Twitter account for the current gallery hours. Events will usually take place in the evenings on Friday and Saturday and may ask for a modest donation ($7 to $12) at the door.

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lampbane

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson, shu, omnikrll

  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • shu
  • omnikrll

Published

April 19, 2017

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Babycastles
145 W 14th St
New York, New York, 10011
United States
40.738452, -73.998785
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