Celebrating 5 years of Makespace Oxford & Aristotle Lane

On Saturday 16th September Makespace residents, collaborators, neighbours and our team gathered to celebrate 5 years at Aristotle Lane.

In the summer of 2018 Makespace and its founding partners flung open the doors of the building formerly known as Aristotle House, bringing it back to life after being empty for 4 years.

We began with a two-year lease, an idea, some wonderful collaborators and between us, plenty of passion and grit.

Since then we’ve scaled our model and our approach across Oxfordshire, reanimating or supporting the reanimation of 30+ buildings, creating affordable space for over 150 purpose-driven and locally rooted organisations.

Today at Aristotle Lane, where it all began, we remain home to over two dozen freelancers and locally rooted charities, co-ops, makers and local businesses trying to make our city and the world a better place. Many have been with us since the beginning and supported us every step of the way.

We thought that was a pretty good excuse for a party.

This public event was co-hosted with the wonderful Aristotle residents and took place where it all began, at 1 Aristotle Lane, on Saturday 16th September.

We welcomed residents, friends, families, collaborators and neighbours from the local community. Folks of all ages gathered for big bubbles, face-painting, badge making, clay-play and illustration, as well as coracle boat rides on the canal, yoga, drumming and weaving. We also enjoyed the fabulous juicing bicycle from Share Oxford, food from Good Food Oxford, No Vice Ice and of course… cake!

Along with activities, the day also showcased live music from 3 idle Women, tunes and performances from InSpire Sounds, an Open Mic, DJ session with YWMP and speeches from Makespace co-founder and Director Andy Edwards, long-standing board member Paul Roberts and Aristotle resident and community advocate, Jabu Nala-Hartley. Attendees were also treated to a powerful spoken word performance by Mike Roberts, encapsulating the very essence of Makespace and its creative community.

We are proud to be celebrating 5 years of Makespace at Aristotle Lane, but while we have been evolving it is important to recognise that we are part of a much larger movement. To mark this we invited some of our partners, co-curators and those who inspire us into the Dome on Saturday 16th to ask the question; what kind of a future do we want to make together? Glimpses of a possible future will be shared over the coming quarter. Watch this space!

…A huge thanks to all our residents, the local community who have welcomed us into the neighbourhood and all those who’ve supported us on our journey so far.