Curious, for those who have successfully started a #hackerspace, #repaircafe, #techcoop, or some other collaborative community space dedicated to technology:
What sorts of local partnerships did you look for when organizing?
I'm interested in building this kind of space, and I'm trying to brainstorm what local groups I might be able to join forces with. A local ham radio club, a mutual aid network, and a punk space are on my list. If you have other inventive ideas, I'm all ears!
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Aurora 🐌
in reply to Spencer • • •I belong to a multiple hacklabs, and the community depends of the space and neighbourght.
We use to share space in the same building with other collectives, and the collaborations depends of the ecosystem of each community.
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Hitchin Hackspace
in reply to Spencer • • •Spencer likes this.
Earth Notes
in reply to Spencer • • •We considered working with some of those but none was really physically close enough or big enough when we started a Repair Café ~3Y ago, but our RC is part of an umbrella organisation that I currently run. We have been asked to start another branch and I suspect we would start another project the same way.
ttkingston.org/ttk-groups-and-…
TTK Repair Cafe NEWS - Transition Town Kingston
www.ttkingston.orgSpencer likes this.
Malaboo
in reply to Spencer • • •I was part of a team that started a MakerSpace at a community college. Fully grant funded for the first two years, but piecemeal after that, it was closed after 7 years.
We never were able to manage any corporate sponsorships but the groups we worked most closely with were welders, especially those starting their businesses (they used our equipment to complete their jobs), robot builders especially the 250-lb BattleBots versions, rocketry/aerospace people, cosplay people, game designers, people who sew, theater tech people and bicycle people who tuned and repaired their bikes. The other big population we served until we were no longer allowed to let the general community participate, was retired people who have knowledge and skills but no longer have a workshop. Bonus for that, they were great mentors!
Background, full wood and metal shop including plasma cutter and CNC router, plus the “21st century tools” 3D printers, laser cutter/engraver, vinyl cutter, button makers, sewing, embroidery and serger. Lots of 8’x6’ high tables for any use, plus
... show moreI was part of a team that started a MakerSpace at a community college. Fully grant funded for the first two years, but piecemeal after that, it was closed after 7 years.
We never were able to manage any corporate sponsorships but the groups we worked most closely with were welders, especially those starting their businesses (they used our equipment to complete their jobs), robot builders especially the 250-lb BattleBots versions, rocketry/aerospace people, cosplay people, game designers, people who sew, theater tech people and bicycle people who tuned and repaired their bikes. The other big population we served until we were no longer allowed to let the general community participate, was retired people who have knowledge and skills but no longer have a workshop. Bonus for that, they were great mentors!
Background, full wood and metal shop including plasma cutter and CNC router, plus the “21st century tools” 3D printers, laser cutter/engraver, vinyl cutter, button makers, sewing, embroidery and serger. Lots of 8’x6’ high tables for any use, plus outdoor spaces. Lots of free materials of all sorts.
Happy to answer questions. Look us up (even though inactive) on IG @mountiemakerspace or on FB same. Yes, yes, bad platforms but that’s where we were in 2017 so stayed.
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Jess Robinson
in reply to Spencer • • •