On Tuesday, May 26th, 2026, members of the Bushwick Community Darkroom received a devastating email from Lucia Rollow, the lab’s founder and operator. Lucia shared that she could no longer support the darkroom’s finances, and that operations as we know them would be shutting down on Sunday. My name is Sasha Brunetti, and I am an independent filmmaker and founder of Ceaseless Media, a woman and queer owned and operated film production company. Since early 2026, I have been attending and working at the Bushwick Community Darkroom, and in that time, I have found a home, a community, and a space that inspires me every day. Lucia is a powerhouse, deeply committed to this community, and working and learning under her has been transformative for my professional journey.

Now, myself, my company, and other community members are working tirelessly on an incredibly tight deadline to take over the lease and stabilize the dire situation at hand. But we cannot do this alone. We need any support we can find in order to get back on our feet. People come to the Bushwick Community Darkroom from all over New York City to learn to process film, debut their work, make new memories, relive old ones, and fall in love. This is exactly the kind of space our neighborhoods need—one that keeps our iconic artistic culture alive. My company was founded on the idea that when we lead art with compassion and community, our art and our connections grow stronger. Through standing together, we can prevail.

Recently, we had found someone to take over the lease, but unfortunately, the offer was not fair to Lucia and fell through. Now, we are scrambling to save the space ourselves. We now have until June 30th to turn this around on our own. Your support will help us take over the lease, cover immediate operational costs, and ensure the Bushwick Community Darkroom can continue to serve as a vital hub for artists, filmmakers, and creatives across New York City. Please help us save this essential space for art, learning, and community. Your generosity will keep the spirit of creativity alive in Bushwick and beyond.