Support The DL: Help Enhance Santa Fe's Creative Community

Hello, I'm J. Alex the Technologist, a long-time member of Santa Fe's creative and collaborative community. Over the past several years, I've been deeply involved in experience design, technology innovation, and labor organizing. I've witnessed firsthand the critical need for safe, welcoming, and dependable community spaces for artists and creatives—especially now, in times of rapid change, societal uncertainty, and the loss of creative local spaces.

With this urgent need in mind, some of us local artists founded The DL, a unique cooperative coworking and creative space in Santa Fe's Siler Rufina District. After a successful first year at our initial location on Rufina St and Rufina Circle, we're moving into a larger venue, on Industrial Rd. We’ll be directly connected to Relay, an exciting new practice/performance/event space under development by one of our current members. Additionally, our new landlord, a long-standing member of Santa Fe’s creative community, shares our vision for nurturing this area into a dynamic hub of creativity and collaboration.​

We're asking for help to cover the costs of this unexpected move, fundraising to support the artists and organizers of The DL as we support the greater Santa Fe area. The $3500 initial ask (eventually $10,000) will help with the required deposits and get us started at the new space.

For the past year, our collaborations has given space to the Santa Fe drawing group, supported local musicians with rehearsal and performance space, a CD release party, music video shoots, mutual aid meetings, movie nights, regional Burning Man events, karaoke… the list goes on, and will go on into our new location, but Bigger & Better.

In the coming year, as we expand, we will seek grants and fiscal sponsorship for our members, local performers, and to attract talent from out of the area. We will collaborate with other area nonprofits, DIY venues, independent fabrication shops, and other relevant organizations to highlight and elevate the glut of talent in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and the surrounding areas. We will also develop cooperative democratic models to ensure we run our space fairly and events equitably.

Follow Us on IG @TheDLSF

ABOUT THE ANALOG PHOTO LAB

An important anchor in our space is the DL Community Darkroom. This darkroom is operated by the Santa Fe Photo Club, a group of lens-based artists who organize photo-walks and other events in town.

For the past year, the DL Darkroom has been an open and welcoming space for Santa Fe photographers to develop and print their black & white photographic artwork as well as engage in some simpler alternative processes such as cyanotyping. The darkroom is currently equipped with a variety of film development tanks and reels, along with two enlargers which can currently accommodate 35mm, 120 and 4x5 film formats. Our sink can handle wet printing up to at least 11x14. We have spacious drying racks, as well as heat-mounting equipment.

In the coming year, we hope to greatly expand the Darkroom’s capabilities and offerings. We plan to install at least one high capacity black and white print processor; along with some digital scanning equipment. Further support for other larger (and smaller) film formats may be possible, as well as some alternative processes. One of our central goals is traditional RA-4 full color printing. To our knowledge, there is no other facility in New Mexico offering this process, only digital alternatives. All of these services will be available via monthly membership or day use fees. We are also considering holding workshops and small beginner classes.

With analog services becoming scarce and expensive, the DL Darkroom offers a community based alternative for emerging photographers and lens-based artists whose interests may be outside the more established Santa Fe photo/art sphere.

ABOUT 505omatic

505omatic is a dynamic journalism collective dedicated to shining a light on local issues through short, engaging social media videos, where our target audience consumes most of its news. We aim to bring attention to the stories that are often overlooked in our community, from local politics and social justice to cultural events and grassroots movements. By focusing on issues that directly affect people’s lives, like corporations disempowering workers, short-term rentals squeezing the affordable housing supply, and local artists who are often overlooked, we make complex topics digestible, encourage dialogue, and build a stronger sense of belonging among community members.

505omatic is grateful to have an in-person meeting space to plot and plan our upcoming stories, and store equipment. The DL will continue to serve 505omatic as both a meeting and editing place.

Follow us on Social Media! @505omatic (IG, YouTube, TikTok, BlueSky)