Third Floor Gallery, Photography centre in Cardiff Bay, Wales.
Third Floor Gallery was a photography centre located on the third storey of a period building on Bute Street in Cardiff Bay, dedicated to documentary photography exhibitions. The space included white-walled exhibition areas upstairs and a digital darkroom on the second level for technical work.
The centre was founded in 2010 by photographers Maciej Dakowicz and Joni Karanka and operated as an independent charitable organisation until 2016. During this time it became an important fixture in Cardiff's photography landscape before closing.
The space served as a gathering point for people interested in documentary photography, where visitors could encounter works that told real-world stories through images. It became known for bringing photographers and audiences together to explore and discuss visual narratives.
Visitors entered through a ground-floor entrance and climbed a stairwell to reach the exhibition spaces on the upper levels. Access required the ability to navigate multiple flights of stairs, as there was no lift available in the building.
The centre received the Epic Award Wales in 2011 for its innovative use of social media and community engagement. This recognition highlighted how the team used digital tools to connect with photographers and audiences in new ways.
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