A crowdfunding campaign aims to fund the first year and a half of the New York Working Cartoon Library, a community space for cartoonists. The funds will cover rent, setup, and operations, although the venue does not yet exist: the search for a location will begin this summer. Additionally, on May 25, there will be a benefit reading in Brooklyn featuring figures such as Phoebe Gloeckner and Kim Deitch.
The Infrastructure of a Living Archive for Comics 🏛️
The project proposes an open archive model with public access to comic collections, but its technical feasibility depends on the final location. The organizers note that comics are experiencing a vibrant artistic stage, with creators innovating without institutional support. The library would function as a community resource, with space for consultation, storage, and activities. The campaign seeks to secure basic logistics before defining the cataloging and digital preservation systems that the collection will require.
We're Looking for a Venue, but First the Rent Money 💸
The New York Working Cartoon Library has a solid plan: raise funds to pay the rent for a site that does not yet exist. It's like buying furniture before having a house, but with panels. The organizers trust that the money and the May 25 benefit reading will attract patrons. Meanwhile, cartoonists dream of full shelves, although for now they only have a GoFundMe account and a lot of faith in drawing.