Helping other spaces

This email came in a few days ago:

>Dear Exchange volunteers,

>I am writing to ask if you have an guidance or links to how to set up such a space in a rural town?

>I live in Clonmel and I have been involved in lots of creative pop-up events in vacant spaces over the years.

>There is a growing interest in having a space open all year that is managed by various people from artists to mental health service users (we do not like the term).

>There was a space run by vounteers for a while called The Common Thread but it ended (it was connected to The Junction Festival). Also there is a renovated old convent in town that is beginning to rent space but very rigid in approach called Place 4 U.

>The main stumbling block is money for rent - most landlords want money full stop.
How do you get around that?

>There is a great space in Nenagh, north Tipperary called Aras Follain but they seem to be bogged down in fundraising to pay their private rent etc. They are providing a great community service but it is not been financially supported enough.

>I have spent many hours doing voluntary work and wonder how people can keep giving time and energy without pay?
Maybe that can never be resolved!

>Anyway I welcome any thoughts so I can report back to our loose group of people all yearning for some creative space.

>Thank you in advance.

>Kind regards,

>Brigid Teehan

this was similar to an email we received a few months ago from Niall in Castlebar:

>Hi,

>I am just dropping you guys a quick e-mail about a project that a community group that I am involved in ('Love Castlebar) are trying to get off the ground (www.memojo.org). We really love what ye guys are doing at Exchange Dublin and we think we can really learn a lot from your experience. We have so many fears and questions at this early planning stage that you guys might be able to reassure us about. We would be extremely grateful for any advice given as we are really passionate about making our dream project become a reality J

>Our Background:
We are a non-profit community movement based in Castlebar (Co.Mayo). We work on projects in the areas of urban renewal, urban/street art and general community events. This year we have renovated/restored 23 derelict buildings in our town as part of a volunteer driven town ‘facelift project’.

>The Memojo Project:
We want to establish a new space in our town by transforming a derelict/disused building through a community/public art project. We want to then use the space for hosting and creating art exhibitions, public talks, cinema nights, plays, live music and DJ sets. We also want to host workshops in a wide variety of areas (photography, film making etc.) and to simply create a space where people in the town feel comfortable to drop in and chill out. We are only in the planning stages of the project but we are keen to secure a suitable venue/premise in the coming months. All of our event profits will be used to fund local social enterprises and community projects. To check out more about our project you can visit our webpage (www.memojo.org) and watch our short project launch video.

>Our Main Questions/Fears?
We have approx. 10k to get our project off the ground but we really need to come up with a self-sustaining financial model to allow our project to survive. At the moment our only source of planned income is via events (e.g. cinema nights, plays etc.) and BYOB live music/DJ nights. But we are considering some simple commercial options such as selling teas/coffees/cakes/sandwiches etc on site.

>These are the main questions that we have at the moment:

>1. How did you make your venue financially self-sustaining? What are your primary forms of income from the venue (events? workshops? Grants? renting studio space?)

>2. Do you utilise any other revenue streams (e.g. selling teas/coffees etc.)?

>3. How supportive was the state towards your project?

>4. What are your main running costs?

>5. Do you find that being a non-alcohol venue limits the size/scale and money generating ability of events?

>6. What do you think are going to be our biggest obstacles along the way? How can we best learn from your experience? What is the best piece of advice you can impart?

>Thank you for taking the time to read our e-mail. We really would be very grateful for any advice 'no matter how concise' you could give us about running such a project.
If you think it would be easier just to have a 5-10min chat, my phone number is 087-1131932.
I am also available to travel to Dublin if it would be easier for you if I just dropped by 'Exchange Dublin' for a short chat.

>Thank You,
Niall O’Hara
(www.memojo.org)

Just thought we could open a discussion for people to add their weird tips and #lifehacks for other community spaces