ABC No Rio -- Trying to raise a million bucks.
When the typical users of your space are young activists, punks, anarchists, freegans, "early career" artists, and the like, raising the dough to save that space is double plus not easy.
Amanda's post reprints the letter she and fellow board member Christine Halvorson have sent out to potential donors and shares some of her own thoughts on why No Rio is so important.
She focuses on the punk shows, which I also think are important, but I find it hard to focus on any one project that happens at 156 Rivington St. For me, the variety is what's so special. I've been to other activist spaces around the world, but haven't seen one that even begins to serve as many projects as are listed below:
- computer center
- screenprinting shop
- dark room
- zine library
- food not bombs
- books through bars (moved out in anticipation of the building renovation, but still listed as an affiliate project)
- art gallery
- meeting space
- hardcore shows
- experimental jazz
- poetry/spoken word
- fund raisers
- movies
- barbecues (vegan)
The building is a center of NYC activism, which will suffer greatly in its absence. I believe this first million dollars will only pay for the basement and first floor construction (the building was in much worse condition than anyone originally thought). It'll take another million to get the building into shape to offer all the services I listed above. If you're going to donate to one cause this year, consider making it ABC No Rio.
…and reproductive rights and/or the environment!