A Museum in Motion
When Executive Director Aziz Isham joined the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) in October 2023, he saw opportunity in what wasn’t happening. The museum’s ground-floor spaces and courtyard were being underutilized, and he wanted to open them up—literally—to the community.
That idea became Open Worlds, a new initiative launched in May 2024 with a $50,000 grant from the William Fox Jr. Foundation. The concept was simple but radical: offer free access to MoMI’s public spaces and fill them with events that invite people not just to watch media, but to engage with it.
From Visitors to Collaborators
Unlike a traditional exhibition, Open Worlds is less a collection of artifacts than a collection of people. “It’s an initiative rather than an exhibition,” a museum representative explains. “Visitors are able to go beyond passive consumption of media, and engage in the creative process, debate ideas, and come away with a new understanding.”
The results have been striking. In just two seasons, museum attendance has nearly doubled. That collaboration extends behind the scenes too. The programs are organized by many different members of the museum’s staff, not just curators, and they take suggestions from their Neighborhood Council and community partners.
Highlights from the first two seasons speak to the range and spirit of the initiative: Open Worlds: Science programs supported by the Simons Foundation, Muppets Babies Take MoMI presented by Bank of America, Gaymer Pride presented with NYC Gaymers, and the museum’s annual celebration of Jim Henson’s birthday—each mixing creativity, learning, and a sense of play.
Finding Your People
For Katie Kita, MoMI’s Director of Membership and Visitor Experience, the most powerful moments have been the most human. “We have had a wide array of audiences come through our doors for these events—from anime enthusiasts to Jim Henson fans to new media buffs,” she says. “The Museum has become a hub where people can come to find and expand their interests and communities.”
That spirit of inclusion runs deep. MoMI’s educators and artists design workshops that make storytelling and technology accessible on every level: physical, emotional, and creative. For many visitors, Open Worlds marks their first encounter not only with the museum but with VR headsets, game design software, or the artists who use them.
Lowering Barriers, Raising Curiosity
For students and emerging artists—many of whom discover MoMI through free Open Worlds events—the museum has become both classroom and playground. By removing financial barriers, the initiative invites people to experiment with tools and ideas they might not have otherwise encountered, offering a spark that encourages continued creativity and exploration.
The spark seems to be catching. Following two successful spring–fall seasons, MoMI is expanding Open Worlds into a year-round program. And in 2026, the museum will open a new lab space for emerging moving-image technologies, offering free access for artists, students, and the wider public to create their own works.
When a Film Becomes More Than a Film
For Isham, the most meaningful moments happen when media becomes a bridge between people. “I love the infinite ways that people share their creativity with each other,” he says. “When folks show off handmade costumes, swap fan trivia, or just celebrate what they love. That’s when our building really comes alive.
“I like it when a film becomes more than a film. It becomes a catalyst for people to discover new friendships, new creative partners, even new parts of themselves. It’s thanks to places like MoMI that make living in New York City so worth it.”
