Columbus Avenue Co-op Workspace Hosts Grand Opening

A dozen graphic designers, photographers and web designers will soon be reporting for work at the newly opened South End Cooperative, a unique shared workspace housed in the former on Columbus Avenue. 

Thursday morning, members milled around the space, typing on laptops and readying refreshments for the co-op’s grand opening fundraiser that evening. There’s still much work to be done – members have spent the last month clearing out old carpet and hitching rides to the dump - but the mission for the space is clear to its founders.

“The kind of space we’re trying to create is one that is diverse, that’s interdisciplinary, that’s creatively sustaining and community-minded,” said web designer Ben Mauer. “We’re all working in some sort of creative discipline, be that videography, performance art [or] graphic design.”

An exact layout of the interior of the space hasn’t been decided on, although cubicles and other traditional office fixtures have been shunned in favor of open tables that facilitate collaboration. The group hopes to use the front half of the space for community events such as art shows or fundraisers for non-profits.

Kelly Creedon, a documentary photographer and multimedia producer, hopes to also use the space to meet with her clients, many of whom lack a physical office. 

“A lot of us are trying to work with organizations who don’t have huge budgets,” she said. “I feel really lucky that we’ve been able to find a way to make this happen in an affordable way in such a prime location.”

Expenses are divided equally among the co-op members, with a little extra set aside for capital improvements. The group hopes to bring its membership to 14, which would lower costs even further. Interest in the opportunity has been strong, Mauer said.

His vision for the space includes community involvement mixed with collaborations between members who might not otherwise connect. 

“A year from now…I would hope that at least a couple of projects that couldn’t have happened without us all being in the same room, happened,” he said.

“I’m excited to just hear the buzz and the din of people working and having fun and making awesome creative stuff.”

To learn more about joining the South End Cooperative, email creativecoopspace@gmail.com or stop by 549 Columbus Avenue on Thursday night (tonight) from 6 p.m to midnight. Potential members are asked to fill out an application. The co-op encourages diversity of race, class, gender and sexuality.