New York is one of the world’s most inspiring places for creatives. Designers, writers, illustrators, filmmakers, and all kinds of creative freelancers live and work here, and the city gives you endless ways to connect with them. From local communities to coworking hubs and regular events, here are some great places to start.
Whether you're a designer, illustrator, filmmaker, or working in any creative field, this guide will help you find your people in the city. From casual meetups to vibrant community events,
New York
offers countless opportunities to connect, collaborate, and get inspired.
Creative Lunch Club is a global community for people working in the creative industries. Whether you are a graphic designer, a photographer, a marketer, or a filmmaker, the Creative Lunch Club gives you the chance to regularly meet other creatives in your city for lunch.
The Design Kids is a global community for emerging designers, with city meetups, interviews, jobs, and practical resources to help you build your folio and grow your career.
AIGA is the go-to hub for designers in the US to connect and get inspired, with community vibes, events, and resources to level up your craft.
The Creative Collective NYC brings Black creatives and entrepreneurs together with community, resources, and events like CultureCon to help big ideas grow.
CreativeMornings is a global series of free, monthly morning talks that bring creatives together for coffee, inspiration, and good vibes.
New York Design Club brings creatives together with inspiring events, talks, and community vibes, perfect for sharing work, meeting new folks, and sparking fresh ideas.
Ladies, Wine & Design is a global community uplifting creative women and nonbinary folks with meetups, talks, and mentorship. Inclusive vibes, real talk, and chapters around the world.
Type Thursday brings type lovers together each month for drinks, talks, and a laid-back group critique to sharpen your letterforms. Hang with the community and get feedback on works in progress.
Verci is a membership-based creative space in New York that brings together founders, artists, and independent creatives across different fields. Weekly gatherings, workshops, and hosted experiments turn it into an ongoing hub for collaboration, learning, and new ideas.
HexHouse is a creator-led space designed for experimental gatherings, equipped with a strong audio-visual setup and a warm, home-like atmosphere.
It’s a place where digital art, performance, and hands-on workshops meet, giving space for inventive projects and unexpected collaborations.
telos.haus is a coworking and event space that brings together creative projects under one roof, offering flexible rooms, a rooftop area, and a founder-driven vision for building a versatile home for arts and collaboration.
Kaleidoscope Studios is a creative workspace in Brooklyn that brings together artists through shared studios, exhibitions, and community events.
It offers flexible memberships, access to tools, and a supportive environment for making, learning, and collaborating.
CEA is a creative studio and event space in New York that hosts gatherings across art, design, fashion, and culture.
Its minimalist aesthetic and flexible layout make it a fitting backdrop for exhibitions, talks, and community-focused events that bring different creative disciplines together.
Land to Sea is a neighbourhood spot that blends café culture with an artsy, community-driven vibe.
It offers thoughtful drinks and treats during the day, then becomes a warm gathering place for music, creative meetups, and small events in the evening.
Third Space is a warm, community-focused hub in Brooklyn built around creativity, inclusivity, and connection.
It hosts intimate programs, open mics, and arts events, all supported by a caring team dedicated to affordability and belonging, with the occasional greeting from their resident Dalmatian.
Radio Bakery is a Brooklyn bakery known for its creative approach to pastry and bread, serving fresh croissants, focaccia sandwiches and seasonal bakes each morning.
Domino Park transforms the Williamsburg waterfront into a vibrant riverside escape, offering stunning views of Manhattan and a unique mix of history, recreation, and relaxation.
With quarter-mile waterfront paths, a water feature, playground, bocce courts, beach volleyball, green lawns, and a taco stand, it brings together leisure, play, and community — all on the site of the former Domino Sugar factory.
Nowadays is a laid-back outdoor bar and event space in NYC that blends community vibes with creative energy, offering a homey setting for live shows, art events, and casual hangouts.
Whether you’re catching local music, relaxing with friends, or meeting fellow creatives, it provides a welcoming spot for connection and inspiration.
Brooklyn Spark is a volunteer run makerspace in Bushwick that offers workshops, studios, tools, and a supportive community for makers, artists, and creatives of all skill levels.
The space includes a woodshop, ceramics studio, textile and electronics areas, and shared workspaces, creating an ideal setting for hands-on projects, learning, and collaboration.
Beverlys is a design and lifestyle store featuring textiles, home, office and community oriented goods presented through a creative and thoughtful curated collection.
Common Things is a boutique that celebrates everyday objects with carefully selected homewares, textiles, candles and pantry goods chosen for their beauty and impact on daily life.
Fredericks & Mae is a design led store known for confetti cutting boards, ceramics, glassware and artful home objects that blend playful aesthetics with everyday function.
SEY Coffee is a specialty coffee roastery and café known for meticulously sourced beans, precise brewing and standout espresso. Lush plants and warm light soften the space, creating a calm setting for focused and memorable coffee moments.
Sauced BKLYN is a cute Brooklyn wine bar with a nice outdoor seating area.
Rhythm & Zero is a coffee and cultural space celebrating seasonal coffee, vibrant community and creative collaborations.
ARTECHOUSE NYC is an immersive digital art space presenting large scale exhibitions that blend technology, light and sound. Its experiential installations invite visitors to explore art through interactivity and innovation.
Film Forum is an independent cinema dedicated to classic, foreign and repertory films. Its programming focuses on director retrospectives, restored prints and thoughtful curation.
Music Hall of Williamsburg is a live music venue hosting concerts across indie, rock, electronic and alternative genres. Its flexible stage and sound make it a favorite for touring and emerging acts.
Smalls Jazz Club is a renowned underground jazz club presenting nightly sets by leading and emerging musicians. Late hours, tight quarters and serious playing define the experience.
Freddy’s Bar is a long running neighborhood bar known for its relaxed vibe, classic drinks and eclectic events. Live music, karaoke and trivia nights keep the space lively and welcoming.
Mezzrow is an intimate jazz listening room focused on piano led performances. Its acoustics and close seating create a focused setting for deep musical engagement.
School of Visual Arts is a creative hub in New York City with strong art and design programs and a vibrant community that helps students turn ideas into real work.
Pratt Institute is a creative hub in Brooklyn with standout programs in art, design, and architecture, plus a lively campus vibe that sparks ideas. If you’re into making things and collaborating with passionate people, this place feels like home.
Typographics 2026 is a design festival in New York City dedicated to typography, type design, and visual communication. The program includes talks, workshops, exhibitions, and community events that bring together designers, typographers, and type enthusiasts to explore the culture and craft of type.
F5 EMPATH is a creative festival celebrating the intersection of design, arts, media, entertainment, and technology, igniting unexpected inspiration. It unites visionary creators and innovators for an immersive, multi-sensory experience that pushes creative boundaries.
CultureCon is a leading creative conference celebrating Black culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship. It brings together creatives, founders, and industry leaders for inspiring talks, practical workshops, and meaningful networking, with a strong focus on career growth, ownership, and cultural impact.
Creative Week, organized by The One Club for Creativity, is a week-long creative festival celebrating the global creative community through speaker sessions, workshops, award shows and industry events that bring together leading voices in advertising and design.
NYCxDESIGN turns the city into a showcase of creativity, with exhibitions, installations, studio events, and talks taking place across all five boroughs.
It brings together designers, artists, and makers from around the world, offering a week of inspiration, discovery, and creative connection.
Afternoon Light Design Fair is an annual home and design show presenting a by-invitation lineup of leading furniture, décor and art brands during a major design week celebration. It brings together the best in objects and interiors for trade and the design-loving public.
The Whitney Biennial spotlights bold new voices and ideas in contemporary American art at the Whitney Museum of American Art, offering a snapshot of what's now and next across mediums.
Clio Art Fair is a discovery-driven NYC art fair that champions independent artists, spotlighting fresh contemporary work and helping you find new favorites.
Join us for an inspiring lunch gathering at Rebel Restaurant in New York, NY, where 15 creatives will come together to connect, exchange ideas, and spark new friendships. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and expand your creative network. Reserve your spot and be part of this vibrant community!
Crayon Club is a growing community of artists who meet across New York City to sketch on location and draw what they see.
Open to all skill levels, the group hosts relaxed meetups that bring together dozens of creatives for shared sketching, inspiration, and connection.
NYC MAD is a community for artists, filmmakers, designers, bloggers and creative professionals in New York.
It hosts regular networking meetups where people share work, exchange ideas, discover opportunities, and connect with others in the creative industry.
Happy Medium is an art-focused studio and community hub that offers supplies, classes, and events for casual and emerging artists.
It brings together creatives for workshops, shared projects, and a welcoming space to explore art and collaboration.
RecCreate Collective is an art and craft studio in Brooklyn that hosts clubs, workshops, and creative events designed to bring people together through hands-on making.
From printmaking and clay to collage and jewelry sessions, the space offers a relaxed, social environment for creatives and makers of all levels to connect, learn, and experiment.
My first lunch was with Lea & Caroline, NYC designers like me and it was great to meet them outside of work in a casual setting. Creative Lunch Club does the hard part of linking me up with others when otherwise, I’d be so focused on work that I wouldn’t have the energy to find like-minded people. And you make new friends.
Thanks for running such a great community! I'm so glad I took a chance and tried this for the first time, and I can't wait for the next month to roll around. Excited to see this network grow!
When I joined Creative Lunch Club, I didn’t expect to connect with people who live in the same neighbourhood as me. It’s pretty cool to build a community of creatives in your vicinity, especially because it’s easier to nurture those connections when you live in a big city. I love it.
