[hackerspaces] Is making alliances with education institutions good for a hacekrspace?

[Ben Brown]

Kwartzlab has tried to work with other local organizations, with varying 
results. We've tried to partner up with one of our local university for 
events, but their ridiculously bureaucratic nature has prevented us 
every time. At this point, I have no plans to try anything else with them.

That said, we have partnered up with local grassroots arts and 
technology organizations for various events/causes to great success. 
We've also leveraged this community participation/recognition for an 
arts grant that bought us our laser cutter in 2010, and a provincial 
equipment grant from the Ontario Trillium Fund (provides 
no-strings-attached money to non-profits).

We don't affiliate with organizations that have strings attached. We 
don't allow outside organizations to steer our space and it's future. We 
would not accept large donations or equipment from outside organizations 
in return for administrative control of our space. We remain independent.

Ben

On 10/16/2013 1:52 PM, Florencia Edwards wrote:
> I wanted to ask you what you guys think about this. At our hackerspace 
> people who manage it are trying to make some strategic alliances with 
> universities, schools, culture centers... But I think it's not good. A 
> hackerspace is an alternative to this institutions and methods of 
> education. Making an alliance only makes this institutions try to use 
> the hackerspace their way (they have more power), trying to preasure 
> us to adapt to their methods of education, what their students need, 
> special workshops... I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong, . I love everyone 
> to know about a makerspace or hackerspace and to come here to explore, 
> but this institutions have a way of imposing or forcing things...
>
> Do any of you have experience with school or collages, are they good? 
> Can you give me some advice?
>
> Cheers all
>
>
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