Cultural Site

Silent Barn

The latest location of the Silent Barn, formerly a DIY venue on the border of Ridgewood and Bushwick, is a community center for people of all ages to interact with art. The new space at 603 Bushwick Avenue, which was acquired through crowdfunding following city closure and vandalism of their original location in 2011, is very easy to miss along the bustling Bushwick Avenue, but once inside the area is spacious and friendly.

There is a stage, a communal table, and a bar at the far end. The space hosts a variety of artists and musicians and performers at night, and is also equipped as a gallery type space and incubator for artists who live upstairs in a residency program.

Although the shows hosted by Silent Barn can vary greatly, the ethos of the organization is cogent and stable. There is no hierarchy in regards to employees, everyone who works there is a “chef,” and it is sustained in part by many volunteers and donations. The space, being “multidisciplinary,” can host a number of different works at a time, which can be visual art, sound art, or anything you can think of. If you’re in the neighborhood, it’s definitely worth checking out whats going on in there.

The Silent Barn is at 603 Bushwick Avenue.