Art Factory Loftas
About this good practice
LOFTAS was opened in the former legendary electro-technics factory Elfa (the producer of tape records). The impetus for developing this maker space was strong need for creative spaces and experimentation.
LOFTAS is a social innovation for cultural expression as opposed to traditional places. LOFTAS was the first community bottom-up initiative to revitalize and use abandoned post-industrial buildings in Vilnius. It was the first successful attempt to open premises, where innovative projects can be implemented with no barriers or functional limits. It promotes DYI while implementing all kind of creative makings - decorations and furniture for events, festivals, educational workshops for kids, artistic experimentations, urban development, co-creating workshops while using recycled materials. Loftas engages professionals, students and local community, volunteers, etc. The indoor and outdoor spaces itself is an innovative makerspace that was build up by community: they can be transformed from festival area or large concert hall to spaces for urban art exhibitions, film screenings, education, design fairs, etc. Functionality and mobility of the premises provides room for experimental cultural labs and innovative formats for cultural events.
Resources needed
Team: 20 people and more than 100 volunteers.
Annual budget - 420 000 Eur (excluding events).
3 main areas of activities:
• Development and transformation of the space itself; engagement of local community.
• Creative experimentation, project implementation.
• Organization of external events.
Evidence of success
Loftas now hosts more than 200 different creative makings and events that are visited by more than 100 000 people annually.
LOFTAS has made huge impact on promoting DYI concept all over Lithuania. It inspires many innovative formats for creative makings and events that are exclusive and later used within creative industry as good practices. It mentored and trained more 1000 young talents (volunteers, students) that continue working in creative industries, expanding DYI mentality further.
Potential for learning or transfer
The project can be replicated in any other city that has abandoned industrial buildings. LOFTAS applied highly adaptive model of activity that does not require high start-up funds and follows “bottom-up” approach instead. Re-using post-industrial sites and turning them into rapidly developing maker spaces enables artists, communities and creative operators to work and live in the same area. Such practices can be extremely influential in changing the social and environmental climate in the city.
LOFTAS is clear evidence that investment in culture can cause a chain reaction in the surrounding area. This initiative not only caused a revitalization of Newtown district itself (with new hotels, restaurants, shops being built around), but also gave rise to Uptown Community Movement that aims to gather local community and encourage them to develop a unique common identity and a vision for urban development of the Uptown district.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Art Factory Loftas