named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Babycastles Academy
Workshop series on artist-focused game development, world-building, and intersections of art and technology, including topics like Pico-8, Unity, Blender, and livecoding.
Exhibitions
Curated game exhibitions highlighting diverse themes and voices, such as "Year of the Pig" featuring developers from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and "Games About Protest" exploring civic conflict through game mechanics.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Game Community Events & Expos 3 activities
- Host collaborative and themed events with external partnersOrganizes and hosts collaborative events with external partners such as Malt Adult Animation Nite and Arcade Review magazine, featuring independent animation, critical game writing installations, and themed programming like miniature golf and game tournaments.
- Host regular events including workshops, game jams, and artist talksHosts events up to four nights per week featuring workshops, game jams, artist talks, panel discussions, and public showcases focused on independent game development, art and technology, and digital culture.
- Present exhibitions of indie games from Greater ChinaHosts exhibitions and related programming showcasing independently developed games from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, with events including panel discussions, film screenings, and Q&As to contextualize contemporary social and cultural realities.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Operate cultural space for experimental video games and digital artOperates a physical venue on 14th Street in Manhattan to exhibit experimental video games, visual art, digital media, and mixed media installations, hosting curated exhibitions and immersive event experiences.
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Game Design and Development Education 1 activity
- Produce and archive educational programmingOffers and archives workshops with lesson plans and video recordings on topics including game development, world-building, hardware security, and digital life organization, supporting ongoing learning and access.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Run artist residency program with public presentationsRuns a three-month online residency program for artists and developers, selecting participants to create new works and present public talks, demos, or workshops, culminating in a final online program.
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Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
- Stream events and maintain digital outreachStreams events, classes, and panels via Twitch during periods of physical closure and distributes bi-monthly event notices to subscribers to maintain community engagement.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operate event-based cafe with themed food offeringsOperates a cafe during events offering themed food items such as "Soylent Pancakes" and "Chicken Nugget with Jelly Bean" as part of an immersive event experience.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$28K
Contributions & grants$24K84%
Program service revenue$2K8%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$35K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$6K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$6K
2 years on record · 2020–2021 · YoY revenue -64.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021
Who runs it
board members · 5
- Kristin Agathos — Director
- Lauren Gardner — Director
- Sonya Belakkhief — Director
- Stephen Lawrence Clark — Director
- Todd Anderson — Director
relationships · 71
Who they work with
- Arcade Review Partner — Collaborated with Babycastles to present critical writings on games in an installation environment.
- Art Palestine International Partner — Collaborates with Babycastles to present Palestinian creators in a digital and video game exhibition.
- Ashi Diamon Partner — Contributed to "Swamp Hospital" for the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Blake Andrews Partner — Served as lead coordinator and contributed to the installation of the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Caroline Sinders Partner — Collaborated on the Social Media Breakup Coordinator exhibition, including one-on-one sessions and performance elements.
- Chao Jin Partner — Contributed mural artwork to the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Charles Huang Partner — Contributed the game "Frog Wall" and performed as Kermit in the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Chevy Ray Johnston Partner — Contributed to "Return of The Quack" for the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- David Huerts Partner — Conducted a workshop on hardware two-factor authentication (U2F) as part of the exhibition.
- Discord Partner — Platform used for community chats and resource sharing.
- Doron Rasis Partner — Contributed to "Swamp Hospital" and "Toot The Turtle" for the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Drew Katsikas Partner — Curated the "M.U.G.E.N (Frogs)" component of the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- E.L. Hohn Partner — Contributed both artwork ("Immersive Tadpole Experience") and installation work to the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Eric Arzoian Partner — Contributed to the installation component of the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Esky V. Vchrun Partner — Contributed the game "Frog" to the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Ethan Beach Partner — Performed as Fly in the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Eva Khoury Partner — Contributed mural artwork to the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Everest Pipkin Partner — Guest judge for the Summer 2021 Babycastles residency selection committee.
- Exonemo Partner — Jointly exhibited works with Babycastles exploring the digitalization of everyday life.
- Fei Liu Partner — Featured participant in the exhibition with artistic contributions.
- Flan Falacci Partner — Contributed mural artwork to the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Frank DeMarco Partner — Contributed to "Ribbit’s Frog Cam" for the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Froggo Partner — Contributed to "Ribbit’s Frog Cam" for the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Glorious Trainwrecks Partner — Co-curated a salon-style event with Babycastles to showcase diverse game creators and encourage game-making.
- Gus Boehling Partner — Contributed mural artwork and a game ("“\_ \_ \_ \_ \_”") to the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Harlo Holmes Partner — Featured participant in the exhibition, contributing expertise in digital privacy and infosec.
- Helel Annasui Partner — Created a zine for the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- Helena Acosta Partner — Co-curated República Colapsada Vol.2 with Babycastles as part of a visual activism project.
- Indira Ardolic Partner — Contributed to "Honeysuckle Home" for the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
- JP Bruneau Partner — Contributed to the installation component of the "Ribbit's Frog World" exhibition.
+ 41 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Immersive, Interdisciplinary Curation as Critical Practicemethodology: immersive_environmentBy curating experimental games and artworks within immersive, thematically rich physical and digital environments, BABYCASTLES deepens engagement with alternative forms of interactivity, because blending narrative theming, installation art, and non-linear design disrupts utilitarian interface norms and invites critical reflection on digital systems.
- Interdisciplinary Experimentation as Creative Liberationmethodology: interdisciplinary-creative-practiceBy treating game development as an interdisciplinary medium that integrates animation, performance, sound, and programming, BABYCASTLES enables creators to redefine the boundaries of digital art, because empowering artists to self-define their roles fosters innovation beyond commercial or technical constraints.
- Platform-Building for Inclusion and Representationmethodology: intersectional-inclusionBy creating accessible platforms that center underrepresented voices in video game culture, BABYCASTLES fosters diversity and inclusion across intersectional identities, because systemic representation in creative spaces enables marginalized creators to redefine cultural narratives and challenge dominant norms.