Kickstarted: Crowdfunded Projects Worth Following Into 2017

Ah Kickstarter and IndieGoGo. They’ve become a big part of how creators start and fund projects. Some times it feels like there’s a new project I want to support every day, which is a testament to how much creative goodness there is in the world. Supporting artists on the come-up is a key part of what we do here. But we can’t forget those in-between projects, those that have made it through the first round of funding but are now faced with competing in the marketplace at large, often drowned out by bigger producers with PR budgets and social media interns. If you’re like me, you forget to go back and check out that thing you saw go by in your news feed when your friend pledged months ago. I got you. Here are a few crowdfunded projects that that went by in 2016 that are ready for prime-time. Some are still working out the bumps, but have made excellent progress. Some are ready for you to purchase. These are coming through your news feed a second time — maybe now’s the time to put down your money on some interesting, creative content. Blackspace Durham, TheBlackSpace.org

This one may not seem like our usual fare, but if you scratch the surface, you can see that this is 100% Black nerd business. Blackspace Durham is a hub for Afrofuturism and digital media, focusing on building local Black community and supporting young people in their goals and interests. Funded at the end of June 2016, the Blackspace extension in Durham has already hosted Afrobeat/Brazilian concerts, a benefi…