Third Floor Gallery
Third Floor Gallery was an independent charitable photography gallery in Cardiff Bay, Wales. It opened in 2010 and predominantly featured documentary photography, often premiering new work with the direct involvement of the photographers. It closed in 2016. Third Floor Gallery was set up and initially run by its founding trustees, photographers Maciej Dakowicz and Joni Karanka, and later photographer Bartosz Nowickii, with help from volunteers. It continued to be self-run with volunteer staff and was self-financed through various grassroots sources. It was noted for its use of social networking for engaging with visitors and volunteers  at a time when that was not common place for galleries. Notable photographers that exhibited at Third Floor Gallery include Martin Parr, David Hurn, Tom Wood, Chris Steele-Perkins, Larry Fink, Mark Cohen, John Bulmer, Rob Hornstra, Simon Roberts, Peter Dench, Ewen Spencer, Ken Grant and Vanessa Winship. Description. In January 2010 founding trustees photographers Maciej Dakowicz and Joni Karanka invested £1000 each to cover a quarter of the lease and the service charges for a loft in Bute Street, Cardiff Bay. Third Floor Gallery opened on 12 February 2010 with an exhibition by Peter Dench. From the beginning  volunteers helped sustain the gallery with donations of money, and with help hanging exhibitions and staffing. Within the first year of operation, Bartosz Nowicki joined as third trustee and they received charitable status. The gallery continued to be self-run and self-financed. Rather than being grant funded, it was financed through a variety of grassroots sources: financial donations from visitors; some of those involved in running it auctioned off their own photographs; donations were solicited via requests through social networking services; and the photographer whose exhibition was showing donated an object from or related to that exhibition that was  auctioned off. It was noted for its use of social networking for engaging with visitors and volunteers at a time when that was not common place for galleries. In March 2012 the gallery expanded to a second floor with an additional gallery, digital darkroom, and dedicated space for community usage. It closed in 2016.