Secure PLACE LB's Future: A Community Media Lab

UPDATE: HOLY SHIT! Within 24 hours, we raised the emergency funding we need to secure our new home and complete the move! Wrigley, here we come!

If we ever had any hesitation about whether we could or should keep going, the outpouring of love and support we received so far is an affirmation that has filled us with resolve and purpose.

We are continuing our fundraising with a $10,000 stretch goal. This additional support will help us build a fund that pays off the the $3,000 balance we currently owe for our printer's service contract through April.

Any additional funds will be used toward future rent and the legal and administrative costs of forming a cooperatively-owned (co-op) community space.

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Hi friends,

When Sarah and Ashley first started PLACE in September 2022, it was with a simple mission: to share creative resources, keep printing accessible and encourage community-produced media. In the last year and a half, that vision grew in so many ways—continually informed by all of you who have entered this space.

Unfortunately, on Jan. 25, we were given a 30-day notice to vacate PLACE's current home in downtown Long Beach due to our landlord intending to undergo a remodel and change the use of the building.

Luckily, we have found a new incredible home for PLACE located at 2172 Pacific Ave. in Long Beach's Wrigley neighborhood, less than 10 blocks away. This space would be a more long-term home for our community that is slightly more affordable -- and even bigger!

But to secure the new space, we have to come up with $4,500 before February 1 to cover the deposit and first month’s rent. Since this wasn’t an anticipated move, we are not in a financial position to cover two rents for February and could use all the support we can get. Our goal is to raise $5,000 in total to cover the double rent plus additional moving costs, especially for our large equipment.

Since PLACE's expansion last June, our friend Beaux of Long Beach Community Media Arts also joined the space, along with dozens of local artists and creatives. Together we've produced free workshops on filmmaking, indigenous textiles, zinemaking, bookbinding, sewing, synthesizers, eco-friendly film processing and so much more. PLACE is currently home to a robust zine Library, low-cost zine printing, microcinema, co-working desks and a community gathering space.

In addition, we've had the privilege to host, collaborate and make zines with some incredible community partners including the Birthworkers of Color, LA Zine Fest, Echo Park Film Center, Forthe, LA Public Press, Knock LA, CSULB, Spacetime Collaborative, Adaept Design, Arts Council LB, and Greater Long Beach Mutual Aid.

We could use all the support we can get during this move to reduce our downtime and continue to offer community media resources and provide donation-based workshops. Anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your continued support and we hope that together, we can continue to make PLACE the SPACE in Long Beach for a long time. <3

Ashley, Sarah & Beaux