How to Set up a Fix and Repair Workshop in a Cultural Event

Author: Fredrikstad Municipality

The TREASoURcE project shares its learnings from successful fix and repair workshops organised in a popular cultural event “Culture Night” in Fredrikstad, Norway.

Read more about the use case and the nature of the cultural event here:

From our point of view, the most valuable lesson and requirement for success of a fix and repair workshop is to collaborate as broadly as possible. This joint effort ensures that repair initiatives are well-supported, making reuse accessible and appealing, and ultimately fostering a culture where people feel motivated to prioritize sustainable choices and minimize waste. In our case, the cooperation with Young Entrepreneurship enabled students to practice entrepreneurial skills by providing repair services under their student-run companies, fostering a real-world business environment where they could showcase their abilities and learn about customer service, pricing, and time management 

The Most Important Requirements for Success

Other useful and replicable practices we found during the use case are, as follows:

Finance

Due to cooperation with vocational schools and free municipal locations (the event took place in the main library in Fredrikstad) there were no investment costs. Repair tools and equipment was also delivered by the students from the school. Going beyond one-time event and starting regular fix and repair workshops would imply that future investments would likely be directed towards materials and consumables, like threads, electronic components, and repair parts. Also there might be costs associated with the training for volunteers to improve their repair skills in case volunteers will be involved in addition to students. 

The primary operational costs will include: 

1. Hourly wages for students: for future events, student participants will charge hourly rates via their student-owned companies. Approximate costs are depending on local regulations and the number of students involved. 
2. Materials for repairs: consistent restocking of necessary repair materials (threads, screws, adhesives) is needed to support regular workshops. 
3. Venue costs (if applicable): If future events are not held in a free public space, venue rental fees must be budgeted as well. The city of Fredrikstad will continue cooperation with the Main Library in Fredrikstad, hence, not budget would be needed for venue costs.  

Tips regarding funding opportunities 

1. Public Funding. Partnerships with municipalities and public schools could cover venue costs and student wages, ensuring accessibility and supporting community engagement. 
2. Private Sponsorships. Contributions from local businesses or repair-focused brands can further offset costs, possibly covering tools and supplies or sponsoring specific workshops in exchange for visibility. 
3. Grants and Sustainability Funds. Many organizations and government programs provide sustainability-focused funding, which aligns well with the goals of promoting reuse and repair.  

For regular, sustainable fix and repair workshops, a mix of public support, possible grant applications, and private partnerships (e.g., with REbyME) would ensure both financial stability and resource availability. 

Stakeholders 

The workshops were co-designed with active involvement from multiple stakeholders, including local vocational schools, REbyME(a professional repair workshop), Young Entrepreneurship NGO and the Fredrikstad Library. Young Entrepreneurship is a non-profit, nationwide organization that, together with the education system, companies and other actors, works to develop children and young people’s creativity and entrepreneurial skills. 

Each organization played a critical role in shaping the workshops, with vocational schools providing skilled students in trades like shoemaking, goldsmithing, seamstress work, and electrical repairs. The students themselves repaired the submitted products with help from their teachers. The professional repair workshop, REbyME taught participants how to repair their clothes and textiles themselves. These stakeholders were deeply engaged in the planning process, ensuring that their contributions aligned with the goals of the event, particularly in promoting sustainability and awareness of repair culture.   

Society

When organising fix and repair workshops it is important to engage and attract residents from different city areas and various backgrounds. Making sure the event is accessible to all is vital. Also, understanding the socio-demographic composition of the city inhabitants would enable to conduct the event efficiently. For instance, the immigrant communities might have necessary repair skills and possibly take part in the fix and repair workshops as craftsmen, which would in turn enhance social cohesion within the society as well as might provide job opportunities for immigrants. 

Organisation

Preparation for a community-wide fix and repair workshop typically requires 2 to 3 months, depending on the scale of the event and number of team members. One project coordinator from Fredrikstad Municipality was overseeingplanning, timelines, communication, and overall event coordination.  One person from Young Entrepreneurship NGO helped with coordinating the teachers from the vocational schools. 

Here’s a rough timeline for preparation for the event: 

• Initial planning and goal-setting (1–2 weeks): Define your objectives, the target audience, workshop content, and initial logistical needs. 
• Resource planning and venue arrangement (2-3 weeks): Secure locations, gather required tools, and arrange materials. In our case, with the municipality’s library space, this step can be streamlined. 
• Partner outreach and student coordination (3–4 weeks): Finalize collaborations with schools, student participants, and professional workshop place like REbyME. This involves setting schedules, roles, and responsibilities. 
• Marketing and promotion (3–4 weeks): Spread awareness through community channels, social media, and local advertisements to ensure good attendance. In our case, the students did an excellent marketing job through their own companies.