By Delaney Crawford
Atlantic City is welcoming a vibrant addition with the grand opening of Artist Playground, a dynamic, all-inclusive studio space housed inside ACX1 Studios on the Entertainment Pier at Caesars. With a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for Thursday, May 15 at 1 p.m., the public is invited to tour the space, meet the founders, and experience a firsthand look at this new creative outlet in our community.
Founded by Benjamin Howard, along with partners Kyle Norbury and Brian Rivera, their goal is to make Artist Playground a place for local artists, entrepreneurs, and dreamers. The space includes fully equipped podcasting rooms, a photography studio, a music recording studio, a stage for live events, a lounge, retail space, and even a full-sized skatepark in the back.
“We’re putting together a special spot for all the local creators and business owners that need a space to create,” Howard said. “Right now, we’re in such an age of social media and media in general, so it’s important for a city to have something like this. That way locals and small businesses can have a way of creating and getting the content they need out there.”
Artist Playground will be open to the public, and anyone who wants to use a space just needs to book in advance. Most studio spaces can be reserved by the hour for around $40. There will also be membership options available; those interested can pay a monthly fee and gain access to everything.
The goal is to create an inclusive space where anyone can come to create. Whether a business owner needs to learn how to take professional photos for their brand or a college student needs better equipment to complete a project, anyone who needs this space can use it.
“The idea is to get the community really involved,” Howard said. “We want it to be an all-inclusive space where people can come in and feel comfortable. Where locals who don’t have these creative outlets can come in, use the rooms and create.”
The idea behind this hub of creativity and community inclusion actually comes from Howard’s former clothing brand, which he launched right here in Atlantic City. In late 2020, he opened a store near Stockton University. In the back was a makeshift photography and podcast studio where they shot content for the brand. Howard says that after doing a lot of media and content for the brand, it just exploded. They started hosting events, and the brand grew into more of an entertainment and culture company.
In addition to Howard’s freelance and other creative work, this idea of a community space where people can learn and grow within the media field came together. Now, with the help of his two partners, the vision is becoming a reality.
While the concept grew organically, Howard credited MTV’s “Fantasy Factory,” a creative warehouse built by skateboarder and entrepreneur Rob Dyrdek, as a major inspiration. He shared that they took some ideas from that and decided to build something similar in Atlantic City.
In addition to providing a space for locals to create, Artist Playground also hopes to actively involve and educate the youth through various workshops, classes, and hopefully collaborations with Stockton University.
“It’s going to be very community-engaged. We’re going to have workshops for local kids, teach them the basics of photography, of podcasting and music recording,” Howard said. “These young kids really understand the media more. They’re growing up in this age where technology is everywhere, they have all these things at their fingertips and if they know how to really use these resources, I think it’ll only help them more in the long run.”
In addition to helping kids grow their media and creative skills, the full-sized skatepark in the back will give them a place to have some fun as well. In the off-season, they’ll offer skate lessons for kids and work alongside the local nonprofit Skate AC.
Community reaction so far has been overwhelmingly positive. Howard hopes that with more word spreading and attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, it will grow even further.
Located at 1 Atlantic Ocean, BR 2216 inside the Caesars Pier, Artist Playground is positioned in the heart of Atlantic City’s tourism corridor, yet it remains deeply committed to its local roots, with a focus on supporting the city’s small businesses, creatives, and youth.
With the ribbon-cutting just around the corner, the buzz is already building. Local leaders, artists, and media professionals are expected to attend, and the event will include space tours and conversations with the team behind the vision.
Atlantic City has long been known for its iconic boardwalk, entertainment, and nightlife. With Artist Playground offering a new outlet, it’s taking a bold step into the future and embracing its role as a hub for creators.
Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. After earning a BA in Communications, Delaney built a successful career in the newspaper industry, honing skills in, news writing, media, and content creation. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DC’s Social Media & Content Creation, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.
