Gen Art Shuts Down. Where To Find Your Culture Fix Now.

Gen Art is saying goodbye after 16 years of showcasing emerging filmmakers, artists and musicians to its young members. Budget problems led to its closure, which leaves a void in New York's and other cities' youth culture scene. But the art remains, even if a group that spotlighted it is gone. -

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Gen Art used the internet to reach its large audience. You probably know this because of the frequent newsletter emails that wound up in your inbox. Despite healthy membership numbers and awareness--over 1,000 people packed the Ziegfeld last month for the opening of the 15th Gen Art Film Festival--the economy hit the organization just like it has so many other scrappy cultural institutions.

Besides showcasing young talent, Gen Art brought New York's young culture vultures together for dependably fun screening and gallery opening after parties. Barring an 11th-hour financial savior, Gen Art will be missed. But all hope is not lost for people seeking its under-the-radar offerings.

Here are some alternatives:

The Film Society of Lincoln Center's New Wave (fka Young Friends of Film) program hosts indie movie screenings and open bar after parties for a crowd of young cinemaniacs. That's in addition to discounted and early bird tickets to Lincoln Center's usual film slate and big events like New Directors/New Film and the New York Film Festival.

The Anthology Film Archives is also one of the city's best spots to catch underground movies and is packed with scruffy twentysomethings.

New York Gallery Week kicks off tomorrow, the inaugural round in what will become an annual showcase of 50+ of the city top platforms for young artists. It spans gallery hotbed Chelsea, Soho and the Lower East Side. Time Out NY guides you to some of the best bets here.

Brooklyn Vegan is the local indie music geek's Bible, with daily concert announcements and photo-clogged reviews. Resident Advisor features exhaustive listings of electronic music shows and after hours dance parties. The Northside Festival (rock) and Sunday Best recently announced their 2010 summer lineups, with mainstays like the Jelly Pool Parties and P.S. 1 Warm Up to follow.