SAVE HELMUTH

Helmuth Projects is asking for your support so we can keep programing at the space.

After eight years of providing a venue for contemporary art and music, we're asking our community for help.  At an event we hosted on June 22nd, Helmuth was raided by six undercover City of San Diego Vice Unit officers.  The show was shut down after an officer was asked to donate two dollars for the touring bands in exchange for a can of Miller High Life .  The crowd dispersed peacefully as they questioned people and took photographs of the room.  Josh was threatened with four or five potential charges, written up on one misdemeanor count and has an arraignment date in San Diego Court next week.  Thanks to Helmuth supporters we hired a lawyer this week and have a really good feeling about having her on our side.  Heads are spinning a little after hearing all the potential paths of defense, negotiations and bargaining options ahead, but it feels better knowing Josh has legal representation.  We couldn't have afforded her help without your generous contributions.  THANK YOU!  This space means everything to us.  We want to keep our doors open and continue to be a safe space for weirdos in this city, but you don't do stuff like this alone...

Thanks for being a part of the good times we've had, and here's to our future.

<3

Clarification:  This fundraising platform allows us to withdraw money as needed while the campaign is live.  We've used some of the funds.  And it TOTALLY saved the space...

$1,850 (Helmuth August rent, internet and utility bill.  Also a Lowes run and a trip to the dump)
August rent was used to support "Marine Layer", a two person exhibition by Brianna Rigg and Joshua Moreno.

$100 (Ice cold bevs for "Marine Layer" guests)

$50 (Outstanding late fee to the property manager that we've been avoiding)

$3,500 (Legal retainer)

We hope to cover expenses for September ($1,500) to host Claudia Cano's solo show on September 15th.  And of course we want to keep programming steadily until they bulldoze the block.

The $3,500 legal retainer is a flat fee to get the charges dropped and/or negotiate a deal with the prosecution.  We've been informed there will be additional legal costs if The City does decide to take this case to trial and warned plea deals might result in some pretty large fines .  We will know a little more about what direction all that is heading at the end of next week.