Open, Large, and Complex: Managing a 3,500 m² *space with 400+ Members (38c3)

A 3,500 m² hack and make space with 400+ members brings unique challenges in community management, public-sector partnerships, and balancing open culture with safety regulations. This talk shares practical insights on fostering an inclusive, large-scale hack/make/arts/culture space, from founding hurdles to the realities of maintaining creative freedom within structural limits. What happens when a hack and make space scales to 3,500 m² with over 400 members? We will offer insights into the challenges and opportunities of managing a large, open community space for makers, hackers, artists and the genernal public. From navigating partnerships with public institutions to balancing open community management, we'll discuss key lessons learned. Topics include the founding journey and public-sector collaboration, maintaining an inclusive culture within a massive member base, and meeting building code on a limited budget. We’ll also explore the dynamic between spontaneous initiatives and intentional space design, sharing experiences that range from community-driven projects to governance challenges. Join us to explore how scale impacts everything—from creative freedom to structural limitations—and how a space can thrive with size. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 about this event: https://events.ccc.de/congress/2024/hub/event/open-large-and-complex-managing-a-3-500-m-space-with-400-members/