New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

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Documentary Center hits Kickstarter goal

John Ambrosio for WSN

The Bronx Documentary Center has raised $30,000 on Kickstarter as of April 6 and is now looking forward to a year of bringing art and awareness to the South Bronx.

Photojournalist Michael Kamber, along with gallery curator and NYU alumna Danielle Jackson, founded the center in 2011 as a non-profit space that features documentary photography from world-renowned photographers and photojournalists.

Kamber said the center was founded to bring photography to a neighborhood that does not receive much attention from the art world.

“We’re passionate about documentary photography and film and had been talking for some years about creating a space where we sort of get documentary photography and film back to more diverse communities,” Kamber said.

The BDC hosts a number of free photography exhibitions each year that focus on topics ranging from the living conditions in public housing to the war in Iraq and, most recently, child marriage. It also organizes film screenings and guest speakers to accompany the shows, as well as host after-school programs and photography classes for members of the community.

With its fundraising goal met more than a week before the deadline, the center is now organizing its programming for 2014, which will include four new gallery exhibitions.

BDC gallery assistant Bianca Farrow said many of the donations came from people in the neighborhood, who have turned the BDC into a de facto center for the community.

“It has been a lot of people who’ve been involved in the BDC just by coming to a screening or a workshop or stopping for gallery hours,” Farrow said. “It’s people giving what they can to support the space, which is really great.”

Jackson added that the BDC is always looking for people who want to get involved, and said NYU students are welcome anytime.

“This is one of the few gems in New York City that has really become a home for anyone involved in the combination of photography, film and community,” Jackson said. “We’re located in the Bronx and much of what we do serves the Bronx, but we’re a crossroads, and if you’ve never been in the Bronx before, then that’s reason enough to come here.”

John Ambrosio is a staff writer. Email him at [email protected].

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    AnonymousApr 7, 2014 at 5:18 pm

    With eight days left, there is still more they can raise! The BDC is a 501(c)3 non-profit and the fundraising is far from over. It’s not too late to make a gift which will bring in depth-discussion and thought-provoking film and photography to wider audiences. Visit http://www.bronxdoc.org/kickstarter today!

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