The Wind at Our Backs
We're going to let you in on a secret: 2023 is closing with good news. Though we're not yet ready to make a formal announcement, we're confident that construction of our new building will begin in spring 2024.
Necessary funding for the first phase of construction is in place, we've nearly completed the required access agreements with neighboring buildings, and the construction management firm hired by the City is working with our architect on finalizing the bid documents.
For the past several years we've faced escalating construction costs and numerous other challenges since deciding to construct a new building for ABC No Rio. It's been difficult and frustrating for everyone involved. But we still believe that grassroots collectively-run organizations can implement large, complex, multi-million dollar projects. Your support has continued to be the wind at our backs.
We know that times remain tough for many, but we hope we can count on your continued support as 2023 comes to a close. And, in anticipation of the coming year and upcoming construction start, one of our regular supporters is once again offering a two-to-one match for the first $2,024 that comes in.
Even without our beloved 156 Rivington Street location, we've been busy. We continue mounting exhibitions at collaborating venues as part of ABC No Rio in Exile: "We Refuse, We Want, We Commit," an exhibition by members of the Strategic Transparency Network at 292 Gallery/Bullet Space; "Design Without Authority" at C-Squat/Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space; and most recently at Project Reach, "Weird Rings True: cartoon marginalia resurfaced from the abc no rio zine library."
Our Printshop in Exile continues in Brooklyn and remains a skill-sharing resource used by artists, activists, bands and others for t-shirts, posters, patches, fine arts, and other projects.
The Zine Library in Exile is open to the public at the Clemente on Suffolk Street, just around the corner from our sorely missed Rivington Street site. In addition to zine aficionados and zine makers, the library is a resource for students and scholars working in the fields of art and music history, sociology, ethnography, and political science.
Like arts organizations across the world, ABC No Rio faces a tough time in the post-pandemic world. But we have a few things on our side: we're small, we're nimble, and we're scrappy - it doesn't take millions of dollars to keep ABC No Rio afloat. Above all, we have our community: a collective of volunteers and active supporters, including you, who carry us forward.
We hope that you'll be among the first to give and that we can count on your generous tax-deductible contribution to ABC No Rio as the year comes to a close. Your support remains important to us. And remember, if you give now, your donation will be tripled.
Donate $300 or more to receive and a copy of the rare and long out-of-print book ABC No Rio Dinero: The Story of a Lower East Side Art Gallery, edited by Marc Miller and ABC No Rio co-founder Alan Moore; cover art by Joseph Nechvatal. (http://abcnorio.org/abcnoriodinero)
And remember - if your employer has a matching gift program, you can double your contribution.
Secure on-line contributions by credit card can be made to ABC No Rio through PayPal. Please make your donation today.
Gifts by check or money order should be made payable to ABC No Rio and sent to our ABC No Rio in Exile address:
ABC No Rio
107 Suffolk Street, #305
New York, NY 10002
From all of us at ABC No Rio: We wish you all the best as the year comes to a close!
ABC No Rio is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to ABC No Rio are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Consult your tax advisor with any tax-related queries.
