Worldwide and regional conferences fuel the movement by helping forge connections between coworking catalysts, which in turn injects renewed energy into the cause. It also attracts outside attention, lending legitimacy and collective value to both the movement itself and independent spaces worldwide. The Coworking Spain Conference will be no different. For the organisers, and many of the participants, the conference is an opportunity to stimulate dialogue between the coworking space catalysts and strengthen the movement, giving it more energy to continue Spain’s astounding coworking growth.
Though the conference is branded a national event, the Coworking Spain Conference will not be about highlighting coworking issues in a purely Spanish context, parallel to the global movement as a whole. Rather, the aim is to strengthen a community within a community and encourage conversation and collaboration between coworking spaces. Manuel Zea of Coworking Spain, a representative body and an advocate of Spanish coworking, is one of the head organizers of the event.
“(This conference is) not about distinguishing ourselves. We’re a community inside a community... inside a community. It’s not about us talking about our own issues, no... it’s a move to grow the movement in the country. Sometimes, you need to be more local.”
Lending strength to the local community will partly be achieved by demonstrating the international scope of the movement - with a number of international speakers included in the program. Moreover, by showing coworking newbies that there are others within their own communities and from around the world willing to help them in their own efforts, a more complete picture of what coworking is about will be transmitted.
“The word coworking has become cool in Spain. People think that they can put it on their website and that if they have a few empty desks they can call it coworking (...) and this worries us. We want to try to show that coworking is about community, not just the space.” Manuel reassures that they are not in the business of trying to define coworking, but instead trying to paint a clearer picture and open up the room for dialogue. “We want to resolve people's doubts, to show them there’s a community,” he said.
The conference will take place over two days in two prominent coworking spaces in Madrid. The first day, hosted by Hub Madrid, will comprise of five panels, during which coworking veterans will explore a given topic, with attendees free to chime in and offer their perspectives or ask questions. The second day will be held at utopic_US, and will include two conference-style presentations followed by bar camp sessions, with both pre-selected and audience selected topics.
The balance between panel discussions, lecture-style talks and bar-camps will ensure a range of perspectives are voiced. “The conference will be very participative,” Manuel explained, who, along with his co-conspirators from the Hub Madrid and utopic_US, drew inspiration from the European and Global conferences, which were interactive on a similar level. The element of participation fits in with the Conference’s title, Hacia la Nueva Co Cultura (Towards the New Co-Culture), which will set the tone of the event. As well as the open discussions, a number of speakers will delve into the new sharing culture which is quickly gaining traction around the world, and discuss the role of coworking in its mix.
“Coworking isn’t just about the space, it’s more about the people. And these spaces are growing into a movement. For us, coworking comes into the ‘co-culture’ - the conceptual collaborative models that we’re moving towards. This is why we’ve called the conference ‘Hacia la Nueva Co Cultura.”
While Manuel acknowledges that sharing economies have not taken off in Spain as much as elsewhere, he feels that coworking could help break in the idea, and in turn propel the coworking movement even further.
As final preparations are underway, organizers expect a crowd of around 150 attendees, and, considering that the most difficult part of the organizational process has been the dreadful realization that on the 25th there is an important (I’m assured so) football match scheduled, the conference is set to be a successful affair. And no doubt a positive step to reinforce and propel the already vigorous coworking movement in Spain.
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When? 25th and 26th May
Where? Day 1, Hub Madrid; Day 2, utopic_US
How much? Single tickets start from €125, with reduced prices for students and multiple ticket purchases
Need to Know: The conference will be bilingual, conducted in both Spanish and English. The event coincides with an important football match, so for those attending the event, accommodation should be booked hastily.
Deskmag is an official media partner of Coworking Spain Conference: "Hacia la Nueva Co Cultura", and will be covering the event over the two days.
