Creative Reuse Toronto: From Idea to Reality
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What began as a concept, an idea, many years ago, has evolved especially over the last five years, and developed into a reality, with our first long-term space at 68 Abell Street, Toronto - a location which is primarily a teaching space. It is our new Arts & Environment Learning & Resource Centre.
Creative Reuse Toronto is now an incorporated Not-For-Profit Organization with a Founding Board and an Advisory Group who will be coming onto the Board in the next little while.
Unfortunately, just as we were finally opening after a couple of major delays (including a serious illness that had me off work for 4 months) - Covid-19 has shut us down again. But that will give us even more time to focus on sample making, curriculum and all those business-related things we need to have in place.
Creative Reuse Toronto is now an incorporated Not-For-Profit Organization with a Founding Board and an Advisory Group who will be coming onto the Board in the next little while.
Unfortunately, just as we were finally opening after a couple of major delays (including a serious illness that had me off work for 4 months) - Covid-19 has shut us down again. But that will give us even more time to focus on sample making, curriculum and all those business-related things we need to have in place.
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To follow current developments and links for this initiative - see the FaceBook page for Creative Reuse Toronto at https://www.facebook.com/Creative-Reuse-Toronto-469122896580494/
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Setting up a Creative Reuse Centre in Toronto:
It has long been a dream of mine to set up a not-for-profit social enterprise in Toronto to assist people to recycle, reuse and repurpose materials with creative potential that would otherwise become part of the waste materials going to the dumpsites. That would just be the beginning.
I envision a warehouse/store setup filled with industrial cutoffs, scrap fabric, scrap lumber, unwanted art materials, bins full of red shiny things, pop-tabs, threads, gears, cogs, strange bits of unknown hardware and electronic waste, leftovers from basement inventors tool rooms, craft rooms, junk drawers.
And open to all to explore and purchase bits and pieces that are sometimes hard to come by - especially when you need them for a project you envision making. And all without individuals needing to keep collecting the bits in their own over-packed homes and studios where they tinker and make things. Or without community groups needing to find and store all the necessary materials for projects.
I envision a warehouse/store setup filled with industrial cutoffs, scrap fabric, scrap lumber, unwanted art materials, bins full of red shiny things, pop-tabs, threads, gears, cogs, strange bits of unknown hardware and electronic waste, leftovers from basement inventors tool rooms, craft rooms, junk drawers.
And open to all to explore and purchase bits and pieces that are sometimes hard to come by - especially when you need them for a project you envision making. And all without individuals needing to keep collecting the bits in their own over-packed homes and studios where they tinker and make things. Or without community groups needing to find and store all the necessary materials for projects.
People could donate things they do not want, for a store credit. buy things on a cost-recovery basis. And then - a gallery and shop of maker objects and art; tables to work on, tools to work with; repair lessons; technique lessons; workshops on repurposing and the environment; idea jam sessions. In short, an intercultural, intergenerational program facility that crosses all social and educational boundaries and accessible to all.
I have started to explore the practicalities of this idea, this dream. I need energy skills and lots of help to set it up and to keep it running. I have taken the first tentative steps - asking what people think and received an overwhelming "what a great idea, we need that in Toronto."
The next step is exposure at the Makers Festival August 1-2, 2015. Complete with a 20 minute talk, a laptop presentation and sign up sheets asking for input and volunteers to help the idea get lift-off. After that? We shall see...
I have started to explore the practicalities of this idea, this dream. I need energy skills and lots of help to set it up and to keep it running. I have taken the first tentative steps - asking what people think and received an overwhelming "what a great idea, we need that in Toronto."
The next step is exposure at the Makers Festival August 1-2, 2015. Complete with a 20 minute talk, a laptop presentation and sign up sheets asking for input and volunteers to help the idea get lift-off. After that? We shall see...
The Maker Festival, Toronto, Aug 1 & 2, 2015
The Maker Festival was busy, exciting, supportive of my idea for a Creative Reuse Centre. And I really appreciated being included with so many dynamic makers of all genres and media - robots to cardboard costumes, 3D printing to felting, model ships to sound and light installations and hands-on activities and games of all kinds. There is so much talent in our community! Check it out:
http://makerfestival.ca/extravaganza-2015/
I was also one of the speakers among a great group of innovators:
http://makerfestival.ca/speakers/
A bit about my idea table:
http://makerfestival.ca/maker/helen-melbourne-a-creative-reuse-centre-for-toronto/
http://makerfestival.ca/extravaganza-2015/
I was also one of the speakers among a great group of innovators:
http://makerfestival.ca/speakers/
A bit about my idea table:
http://makerfestival.ca/maker/helen-melbourne-a-creative-reuse-centre-for-toronto/