Anthology Film Archives Launches $6M Fundraising Campaign for Renovation

Founded in 1970 in a former prison building in Manhattan's East Village, the Anthology Film Archives is a unique institution dedicated to preserving and exhibiting avant-garde cinema, video art, and experimental film. Co-founded by Jonas Mekas, Jerome Hill, P. Adams Sitney, Peter Kubelka, and Stan Brakhage, the archive has been run for over 45 years by Jonas and his son Sebastian Mekas. Now, Jonas Mekas has launched a $6 million fundraising campaign to renovate the facility, timed to coincide with Frieze New York. The project includes upgrading the archive space, creating a library—set to become the largest on independent film in the United States—adding a café and rooftop terrace, installing an elevator, and building an exhibition gallery. A dedicated website explains the development, and an auction will soon be held to raise the necessary funds. Without this renovation, the institution's financial sustainability and future are at risk.