Part of Downtown Brooklyn’s vibrancy is without question from the energy and excitement around the Brooklyn Cultural District. This quadrant of cultural organizations cover artistic practices of all disciplines—from theater, film, and visual arts to dance and live music, with venues to watch world-renowned performers or discover your next favorite local act. And the area isn’t just centrally positioned for experiencing art either: For the makers, there are a handful of options for expressing your creative side, from ceramics classes to drink-and-draws. Beyond the Brooklyn Cultural District, DUMBO is home to a host of fine art galleries and the centrally located trains stemming from Downtown Brooklyn are quick connections to other arts and culture destinations in Manhattan.
Picture Room
This intimate appointment-only art shop sells prints, photography, and a small collection of objects by emerging and established contemporary artists, along with rare prints, posters, and art publications. The shop is run by Sandeep Salter, who also runs the neighboring shop, Salter House.
MoCADA (Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts)
The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts explores social and political issues through thought-provoking, conversation-inciting visual and performing arts programming and community organization.
Usagi
In this Sou Fujimoto–designed gathering space, you’ll find a Japanese cafe, a small art gallery, art bookshop, and a small gift shop. It’s a perfect space for casual meetings, creative conversation, lunch, and to browse more obscure art, architecture, and design books
BRIC
Located in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District along with many other performing and visual arts organizations that call the area home, BRIC is an arts and media institution dedicated to showing and supporting the creation of art, media, and civic action of today’s times. Its gallery exhibitions feature emerging and mid-career artists presenting work relevant to the borough’s diversity as well as two performance spaces, artist work spaces, and a public media center.
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
The robust programming of nonprofit performing and cinema arts center BAM is internationally recognized and locally loved for its first-run, independent films, avant-garde theater, and music and dance performances. More than likely, you’ll be coming here on multiple occasions in any given year, but no two experiences will ever be close to the same.
Alamo Drafthouse
The nearby Alamo Drafthouse isn’t your regular cinema. The seven-screen arthouse theater promises an always-interesting roster of films, with couch-comfortable seats and food and beverage service direct to you as you watch. For select films, Alamo Drafthouse also offers creative menu pairings for a complete on-theme experience. Plus, their in-house bar is the House of Wax, which entails a mini-museum of vintage wax figures, dining space, craft cocktails, and a selection of local craft beers.
