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OpenSpace newsletter
OpenSpace is a co-operative for small organisations and freelancers working in the creative, environmental or social enterprise sectors.
Welcome to the August 2010 OpenSpace newsletter. This issue, we introduce you to our new members, update you with our news, invite you to our next exciting social event, and give you some marketing tips from our members.
New Members
OpenSpace is pleased to welcome three new members to the co-operative:
- Adam Gibson from Supreme Accountancy. Supreme Accountancy is an ethical accountancy practice and provides a personalised service to both business owners and individuals.
- Andrew Chiu, freelance illustrator. Andrew is returning to freelance illustrating after a few years working in the public sector.
- Fink On Theatre Company was formed in 1998, bringing together diverse theatre talent. We create theatre that captures the imagination of our local community. We believe in detailed storytelling, material that challenges and inspires, and a skilled and exciting theatrical experience.
News from our members
Over the past three months OpenSpace has been continuing to improve our working environment. Our lovely mezzanine floor now has windows that open, and we've also been making cosmetic improvements to the walls and our notice-board area. Plans are afoot for more internal improvements, so watch this space.
We still have a small amount of space available at OpenSpace for members, tenants or hotdeskers. To find out more, please contact us on 0161 20 999 30, info@openspace.coop or just drop by for a chat. Visit here to find out about our reasonable rates.
OpenSpace Co-operative is composed of both co-op members and tenants. We're either freelances or work for small organisations in the creative, environmental or social enterprise sectors. Here's what some of our members have been up to since our last newsletter:
Andrew Chiu, freelance illustrator. As I'm returning to work as a freelance illustrator after spending some time out of the industry, I'm concentrating on generating a new portfolio of samples before I approach agents, editors and publishers. In the meantime, one of my previous comic strips, Dan Barton - a spoof on Dan Dare, is being published in Bosnia of all places!
Jonathan Atkinson, lowwintersun I've recently been working with academic and writer Stefan Skrimshire to help promote his film, Beyond the Tipping Point. It's about climate change, action and the future and was launched in July at Manchester Museum. I've also just been awarded funding to run a two day masterclass in financing community renewables, so watch this space for more information.
Fink On Theatre Fink On Theatre have just finished our production of Crying in the Chapel to rave review at Manchester's Contact theatre. We're now embarking on a several projects with creative partners from across Europe.
Luke web developer at EcoBee I've been working mainly on assisting a fellow coop called substance with their Plings site which is all about getting information to young people about activities in their area. "Plings is the first national source of information about brilliant, inspiring and challenging places to go and things to do for everyone who's aged 13-19."
Ruth Rosselson, writer and consultant I've been gathering more case studies for Co-ops UK's Greener Together project and have finished co-facilitating a community researcher course for GAP. My biggest recent piece of work has been compiling an annual report for the charity Blue Ventures, an NGO working in marine conservation in Madagascar. It's been hard work sifting through masses of information but really rewarding to see what such a small organisation can achieve.
Michael Wignall, Orange Tree Digital - I've mainly been working on launching a new co-operative web venture and managing a major web project for Ethical Consumer.
Creative Co-ops launch event
OpenSpace is really excited to announce that we're going to be the host for the launch of Co-operative UK's new Creative Co-ops website. The launch will take place in OpenSpace on 23rd September 6pm-9pm. There'll be a refreshments, a speaker from Co-operatives UK and a showcase of projects from creative co-operatives. Get your (free) tickets from eventbrite
Marketing tips
Most of our tenants and members at OpenSpace are freelancers or work for small businesses. One of the most important aspects of any business - large or small - is marketing. Everyone has their own tried-and-tested ways of attracting new clients, and we thought we'd share some of ours with you.
Advice for self-employed people and creatives!
OpenSpace members have such a wide range of experience that we thought we were in a unique position to collate some of our personal top tips and advice to people working in similar industries. Here are our tips for this summer:
Luke, EcoBee
As web developers, we've found that associating with other web developers who are interested in the same technologies as us has often led to collaborations or new work, alongside many other benefits. We develop primarily in Drupal, so we try and attend both international and local Drupal events - and where they are absent we set them up!
lowwintersun
In order to market something effectively you need to create a feeling about it; it's about creating that intangible buzz, pitching your project, product or service in such a way that it seems like the coolest thing to your target audience. If you can achieve that, then news about it will spread by word of mouth and your job will have been done.
Ruth Rosselson
I've found that a lot of my most exciting pieces of work have come in from people I've met in person first. While networking is an important way of letting people know who you are and what you do, I firmly believe that when it comes to people, it's the quality of the relationship that counts, not the quantity of people that you know.
Andy Chiu
Use as many marketing avenues as possible, but try and formulate a strategy first!
Michael, Orange Tree Digital
My advice is to always carry other people's business cards or contact details, especially in your area or related disciplines. If you can't do a piece of work for a prospect, help them to find someone who can.
OpenSpace Co-operative - 0161 20 999 30 - info@openspace.coop
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