Outreach- How do you do it?

Richard Fullbrook

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Jul 26, 2016, 5:14:13 PM7/26/16

to Coalition of Canadian Creative Spaces

Hi all,

Edmonton New Technology Society is currently running a large booth at the local 10 day midway/fair. This is our biggest outreach event of the year, and we tend to struggle with planning and execution of it.

My question to you is: How do you do it?

What does your space do for outreach and events?

Thanks,

Richard Fullbrook

Ninety Nein

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Jul 26, 2016, 5:25:49 PM7/26/16

to Coalition of Canadian Creative Spaces

If it's feasible, a Learn to Solder setup is a pretty good way to attract attention, chat with people, and gain new members. Other things VHS has tried are swap meets, kit sales, button making booths, and even some t-shirts. Again, these aren't huge money makers, but are great tools for raising awareness of your space.

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jim

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Jul 27, 2016, 10:25:19 AM7/27/16

to Coalition of Canadian Creative Spaces

Hello Richard.

I am currently in Kamloops, teaching some of the K3 maker space folks how to interface with business. If you would like when I am back in Calgary I can give you a call and help you with figuring out community outreach. If timing works, I may be able to bring the makerbus to Edmonton.

I run a not for profit teaching soldering workshops, and electronic teardowns. The program is Scoperta (which if memory serves you have heard of), we have been running the makerbus all over western canada latelly. Since my time as a director at Protospace and now having stepped away from the space entirely, I have been working with spaces, youth groups and school boards to teach some important skills for community relationship building and helping run events when requested. Lol I thought I was busy as a director.

If your interested, let me know and I will give you a shout.

-Jim
Scoperta.ca

Richard Fullbrook

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Jul 27, 2016, 6:39:57 PM7/27/16

to Coalition of Canadian Creative Spaces

We have done the soldering kits, and things similar.

The main issue we have is that we do not have many members willing or able to volunteer a good deal of time with us. Our big issue is how to get the most "Bang for the buck" kind of outreach.

The reason we decided not to do soldering kits, is that soldering kits attract mainly children. This is great and all, but children are not our members. Our space is not kid friendly, as there are many ways to hurt yourself in a machine shop.

Promoting the ideology of the maker community is not our main goal with outreach, attracting people who are already interested in making things to our facility is.

Ninety Nein

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Jul 27, 2016, 7:11:25 PM7/27/16

to Coalition of Canadian Creative Spaces

Then in that case, you need to lure new people into the space with workshops, training, and the promise of better tools than they have at home. WRT the booth, have info available, maybe offer discounts, or show off projects that showcase CNCs, laser cutters, or other specialty tools that you have.