This evening, Wednesday 9th September, Openspace workspace co-operative, based in Hulme, Manchester, will launch the series of five short films by Damien Mahoney which document the founding and development of this successful social enterprise.
The films will be showcased at an event at Openspace this evening, to an invited audience of social and creative entrepreneurs and co-operators. Featuring in-depth interviews with founding and early members of the co-operative including eco web specialists Finn Lewis and Luke Geaney, social entrepreneur Jonathan Atkinson, gender consultant Hannah Berry and cartoonist Paul 'Polyp' Fitzgerald, the films will be introduced by Openspace's newest member, illustrator Ben Tallon.
Openspace's model, which provides affordable co-operatively managed workspace for ethical and creative freelancers and small businesses and freelancers, has bucked recessionary trends and attracted a full complement of tenants. A grant from the Co-operative Fund is due to be invested in refurbishment work on Openspace's offices, which will include a major extension.
Notes:
Last-minute requests to attend the launch should be made to Jonathan Atkinson at jonathan [at] lowwintersun.info or to the Openspace office on 0161 209 9930. Space is limited so please do get in touch before coming. Directions can be found at: http://www.openspace.coop/location
Openspace is a co-operative co-working project, offering cheap, flexible office space in a creative, friendly atmosphere. “We are all freelancers and small businesses who were sick of working out of our bedrooms and spare rooms. We created an office where we could work, meet clients and be around other nice people. Because we run the space ourselves we get cheap rent and to be our own landlord. We work for good people doing creative community or environmental work.” Openspace is also part of the second-tier Work For Change co-operative, http://www.work.change.coop/. More information on Openspace can be found at http://www.openspace.coop/
The full range of Damien Mahoney's videos documenting the vision and processes behind the establishment of Openspace can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/user/OpenSpaceCoop
Openspace Co-operative members currently include:
Ben and Ink http://benandink.co.uk/
Ecobee and Ecohost Co-ops http://www.ecobee.org/ and http://ecohost.coop/
Entreprenurses http://www.entreprenurses.net/
The GAP Unit http://www.ioe.mmu.ac.uk/caec/gap_unit/
lowwintersun http://www.lowwintersun.info/
Polyp http://www.polyp.org.uk/
Sarah Irving http://www.sarahirving.net
Streamengine http://www.streamengine.co.uk/
Non-co-operative-member tenants include:
Columbidae Conservation http://www.columbidae.org.uk
Helen Clifton – freelance journalist
Pow Wow Eco Arts http://www.powwow-ecoarts.org.uk/
Proper Job Theatre Company http://www.properjob.org.uk/proper-job-index.html
