Ever had a fine dining experience on a bus, laid down for a massage on the top deck or danced in the aisles? Well, Commonplace has - aboard our very own coral-coloured bus!
Commonplace is a mobile community space housed in a double decker bus, showcasing the best events and meet-ups across Manchester. We are a social enterprise and work with community groups, fellow social enterprises and start-up businesses - bringing their events and ideas to new crowds and communities across the city. We are passionate about creating an affordable, yet beautiful event space that can be used by anyone.
And the advantage of being a mobile space means we can reach more people and take new events to different communities. You really can have a spa in your office car park, or host a dinner party in your local park!
We are now ready to start the next stage of our journey and convert the interior of the bus, introducing much needed practicalities like electricity, lighting, heating and air con. As well as enlisting a local team of makers to design functional and beautiful furnishings, that will be created in public workshops. We need £5,500 to kick start this process...
All Aboard!
Thanks to Stagecoach Manchester we have a bus - and over the last 6 months we've been out on the road running pop-up events - transforming her empty decks into unique experiences. These have included pop-up restaurants, spas, talks and creative workshops.
We may have a shiny exterior, but our interior could do with some sprucing up! The bus had the seats removed and some temporary carpentry work to see us through this summer, however in order to make it a truly functional space for our community users we need to install an internal generator to provide electricity, and fitted furnishings that are adjustable and moveable - adapting the space for different events. We are crowd funding for £5,500 which would kick start the conversion.
Your donations of £5,500 will:
- Design the conversion
- Host free and fun workshops for everyone to have an opportunity at refitting the bus
- Enable us to run the very first making workshop
- Show funders that the bus is needed and loved
Join us for the Journey (no need to buckle up!)
The exciting bit is you can be involved with the future of the bus.
- Be part of the design process - give feedback on the plans and vote for your favourite ideas
- Join our workshops taught by talented local artists and craft people to make fittings for the bus
- Become a member of our community forums
- Be part of the creation of a community asset that you and your friends can use
We are working with a brilliant team of local makers to design a series of touring workshops that will pop-up in a location near you, inviting you to come and make fittings for the bus. These could be anything from a stool, to a coat hook, to seat coverings. Even tell us what you fancy making!
By supporting our crowdfunder you will be helping to create a community asset for the people of Manchester, that is beautifully designed, functional and built by locals.
Join us for the journey and help us create a beautiful new space for Manchester! #getonboard