Williamsburg art gallery threatened by rent hike sees outpouring of support
Joseph Diaz, a native Brooklyn resident, said he aims to amplify voices of BIPOC artists from the five boroughs.
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AM:PM Gallery is seeing an outpouring of support after putting out a call for help on social media as they face eviction.
The art gallery is owned by Puerto Rican artist Joseph Diaz, who opened the studio in the Los Sures section of Williamsburg, which is historically a Puerto Rican neighborhood.
Diaz, a native Brooklyn resident, said he aims to amplify voices of BIPOC artists from the five boroughs.
"We are giving them an opportunity to tell their stories through the art and I think that's very important," he said.
In January, Diaz said his rent was raised to $8,000, the third time his rent has been raised in three years, making it impossible for him to stay afloat.
"Art itself is hard to survive off of but to survive in a gentrifying neighborhood is even harder," said Iman Abdul, director of AM:PM Gallery. "There aren't enough spaces like this, I don't know where artists will go too."
Abdul posted a call for help on the galleries social media accounts which led to donations pouring in on a GoFundMe page.
This is the second Puerto Rican owned business in Williamsburg News 12 has featured in two weeks that face closure because of rent hikes.
Diaz said thanks to community support the gallery may be able to stay open.
"Definitely overwhelmed with the responses," he said.
