Video Games: The Great Connector explores how young people leverage video games, emphasizing less what games do to youth, and more what youth do with games. The exhibition originally ran for eight weeks at the Harlem School of the Arts, from February 3 through March 30, 2024. During its time there, more than 3,500 students, teachers, and parents visited the space, engaging with the exhibition's unique approach to exploring digital storytelling and youth agency.

Following its Harlem debut, the exhibition began touring local schools as a pop-up experience, adapted for easy set-up within schools. Now, Video Games: The Great Connector is returning for one week only — Monday, April 28 through Saturday, May 3, 2025 — at the City College of New York.

Thanks to the strong response from teachers last year, the Harlem Gallery of Science is once again inviting local middle and high school groups for free, interactive field trips that spotlight the educational power of video games and digital storytelling.

What to Expect

The exhibition focuses on how youth use games to form connections with themselves, their communities, and their future. While video games are featured, the experience also includes participatory activities, art stations, selfie opportunities, and spotlights on contemporary game designers. The exhibition is organized into three sections — click the links at the bottom of the page to learn more about each of them.

Bonus: With advance coordination, representatives from Urban Arts will be onsite during high school visits to share free after-school game design opportunities and college and career pathways.

Please note: While the exhibition is free, advance booking is required for all school group visits.

We’d love to welcome you and your students back to the expo. If you have any questions or need help arranging your visit, feel free to reach out.

Field Trip Slots (Advance Booking Required):

Monday, April 28 – Friday, May 2

• 10:00 – 11:30 AM

• 11:30 – 1:00 PM

• 1:00 – 2:30 PM

Public Hours:

• Monday–Friday: 3:00 – 6:00 PM

• Saturday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM

All school visits take place at City College of New York (North Academic Center (NAC) Building, First Floor-Flex Space, 160 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10031).

REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL
GROUP HERE!

BOOK INDIVIDUAL TICKETS HERE!

The Three Sections of Video Games: The Great Connector

Connecting with Future: This section of The Great Connector explores how young people can prepare for a career in video games.

In addition, educational material, which includes an Education Guide, was developed and made available to teachers that included class work assignments based on New York Learning Standard in Science and Mathematics as well as gaming experiences playing games that have won the GEE! Award which recognizes excellence in educational games design.