Project Archive.

The Interdisciplinary Program was a 10-month experience through European Solidarity Corps (ESC) where three young ambitious and aspiring creatives honed their skills, developed their portfolio and gained first-hand experience working within the creative and cultural industries.

Funded by The Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF) through the Erasmus+ European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Program, this project offered a unique experience to participants to work on a variety of creative projects alongside the team at STPLN in Malmö, Sweden.

Can microcredentials strengthen the independent creator in relation to stakeholders?

As part of the development of our incubator program, The Lab, we investigated whether and how micro-credentials can strengthen the participants in the incubator. We wanted to investigate how micro-credentials for the independent cultural actors can be designed at the same time as we wanted to see if micro-credentials could contribute to strengthening individual freelancers in their competence profile vis-à-vis stakeholders such as funders as well as buyers and employers. This project was funded by Region Skåne.

Creative Collaboration for Energy Transitions: Exploring how culture and creativity can reshape energy behavior.

CCI4Change was an Interreg-funded initiative that brought together public authorities, cultural and creative industries (CCIs), and civil society to explore how artistic and cultural practices can support more sustainable energy use. At its core, the project seeked to reduce energy consumption by addressing one of the most challenging dimensions of the energy transition: human behavior.

www.cci4change.eu

A two-day festival that attracted over 500 attendees. Held across multiple locations in Malmö, with STPLN as the central hub, the festival brought together diverse communities, fostering the exchange of creative practices, culture, and knowledge. Locally Alien was produced by the design studio Feral who continuously are hosting workshops focused on nonhuman and social ecology in Malmö. locallyalien.org

Fiber Land was an initiative led by the County Administrative Board of Skåne in collaboration with STPLN and Jenny Nordberg Design Studio, supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The aim was to promote hemp, flax, and wool as viable commercial alternatives to resource-intensive fibers such as cotton and synthetic materials. The goal was creating new business connections between Skåne-based primary producers of these three fibers and various end buyers. Fiber Land @ lansstyrelsen.se

The Post Social Media Club was a collaborative project exploring alternative digital futures. It brought together 25 European creatives from Sweden, Greece, Serbia, France, and Turkey for design masterclasses, a weeklong residency/hackathon in Sweden, and five exhibitions across Europe showcasing speculative futures. The project was funded by Erasmus+ Key Action 2 – Cooperation. @postsocialmediaclub

S4Fashion empowered SMEs to introduce sustainable and circular economy innovations in the fashion industry. In collaboration with STPLN, S4Fashion hosted a hybrid event where participants had the opportunity to meet Otto von Busch, Professor of Integrated Design, and learn zero waste pattern techniques from Birgitta Helmersson, an experienced designer and pattern maker. The participants took part in hands-on workshops, including sustainable creation with Daniela Doe and garment amendment with Waxiu Shehu. s4fashion.eu

The Jubilee Scholarship Fund was launched by STPLN in celebration of its ten-year anniversary to support eight innovative cultural projects. Projects across various fields, including a choir, textiles, immersive theatre, and urban gardening, were selected for funding and mentorship. STPLN provided space, resources, and opportunities for growth, highlighting the need for collective support for local creators and businesses during challenging times.

The Stapelbäddstädgården was a project funded by the STPLN anniversary fund in 2021. When Stapelbädden was renovated, a foundation had been laid for a rooftop park, with plants chosen to withstand harsh conditions and bind the soil. The park, now resembling a miniature forest, led to the start of Stapelbäddstädgården, an urban gardening and community initiative. Today, it is run by 44 households as a community in the Western Harbor of Malmö. stapelbaddenstradgard.se

Makers & Creatives was a program for individuals aged 16-29 who wanted to bring creative ideas to life in design, film, art, fashion, music, and more. Ideal for those looking to build a business, association, or long-term career in the creative industries. Participants received four months of mentorship and attended sessions on business development, production, guerrilla marketing, interactive design, and social innovation.

The 7 Hills project was a collaboration with the 7 Hills Skate Park in Amman, Jordan, which began in 2018 with funding from the Swedish Institute. During a six-week residency at STPLN, a concept for a DIY house adjacent to the park was developed. The park is focused on social initiatives, including engaging girls in skateboarding and offering refugee children free recreational activities. In April 2021, the Swedish Institute launched workshops in screen printing, textiles, woodworking, and other crafts to complement the park’s efforts. The last follow-up trip was for March-April 2022. Read more: www.7hillspark.com

Spot It was a collaboration between STPLN and the Alexandria Media Forum (Egypt), aiming to explore partnerships in media and creative co-working spaces. It focused on addressing disinformation beyond "fake news," fostering transparency, promoting media literacy, and empowering citizen journalism. The project encouraged collaboration to safeguard diversity within these spaces.

AGORA aimed to strengthen the notions of diversity and collaboration in the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) by encouraging young people to develop their creative (arts or cultural) ideas into possibilities for work, inclusion and/or self-fulfillment.

The Center Of Multi sensory Art (COMA) was a visionary residency program at STPLN that sought artists from the Nordics and Baltics to explore the expansive world of multi sensory art. Open to various art forms, three chosen artists spent two months each at STPLN, creating diverse final pieces such as performances, exhibitions, screenings, installations, and immersive experiences. COMA was supported by Nordic Culture Point through the Nordic Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture.

Precious Plastic, an internationally recognized concept that used open source machines to recycle plastic waste, found its home at STPLN in 2017. It was run and developed by a small group of volunteers, with ongoing support from STPLN.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. A community-run alternative media lab, photography darkroom and studio. ALOFILAB (a lo-fi laboratory) is a community of photography enthusiasts who collaboratively explore photography and videography techniques. At STPLNs previous space there was a DIY darkroom, workshop and exhibition spaces as well as analog photography equipment that is free to use for members of the community. Today Alofilab is using different spaces around Malmö. www.alofilab.se

As part of the project Håll, STPLN dedicated one week to exploring and testing the concept of "Sustainability by Design." Collaborating with leading scientists, experts, activists, and key institutions in the field, we engaged in discussions, examinations, debates, and hands-on experimentation to deepen our understanding of the topic.

Malmö Makerspace was located at STPLNs previous space, a fully equipped makerspace designed to support creativity and innovation. It offered a diverse range of machines and tools, including equipment for electronics, digital production, and woodworking. Membership provided access to advanced tools such as laser cutters, 3D printers, a CNC milling machine, as well as screen-printing and textile workshops, among others. Introductory workshops on machine use and other creative courses were available for both members and the public, fostering a collaborative environment for makers of all skill levels. malmomakerspace.se

Meadow Lab offer educational programs on foraging wild edible plants and fermentation, encouraging a stronger bond with nature and fostering a sense of gratitude. By sharing traditional knowledge, the project sought to build resilience, tackle the climate crisis through sustainable practices, and cultivate a sense of interconnectedness within the ecosystem.

Ung Svensk Form celebrated its 20th anniversary with a vibrant event hosted by STPLN. The celebration featured a range of exhibitions, labs, talks, and workshops, all centered around design and sustainability. Read more here!

In 2017, STPLN partnered with the Lithuanian organization Youth to Youth Initiative to host a summer school for young leaders. During this time, we were asked to organize the Youth to Youth Initiative’s major event, the Y2Y Summit, which brought together a hundred of the world’s top young leaders and international speakers. In June 2018, nearly 100 youth leaders from social projects, democracy movements, environmental activism, equality, and LGBTQIA+ organizations gathered in Malmö. They came from all over the world, bringing their unique experiences and perspectives. summit2018.y2yinitiative.org

Repair Café Malmö revives items such as stereos, computers, phones, and lamps, while promoting hands-on learning. With a range of specialized tools, the initiative welcomed diverse repair challenges. While spare parts like iPhone screens weren't provided, collaboration was encouraged to find solutions together. Repair Café is now operating at Malmö City Library. repaircafe.nu

The Frön project aimed to transform the unsustainable city through art, culture, and design interventions. Using methods such as exhibitions, signage, workshops, and recycling, it addressed urban challenges and proposed sustainable solutions, from concept to practical application, to drive positive change in the city. niarfron.com

In 2015, VA Syd, Sysav, STPLN, and Malmö City, with support from Malmö University, launched Sweden’s first recycling and waste sorting meeting place, Returen in Lindängen. The initiative aimed to promote recycling, repairs, and facilitate waste collection in the city. Residents was able to participate in creative workshops, cook in the communal kitchen, shop at the free shop, and connect with others over coffee at the café. By the end of 2021, Returen’s operations in Lindängen, in its original form, had been discontinued. However, parts of the service had continued under the management of the Lindängen Library. Read more here!

The facade of STPLN – Stapelbädden in Västra Hamnen became an art gallery. The STPLN Window Project invited artists to transform the building's large front windows into canvases. Inspired by The Hoxton Window Project in East London, the initiative ran throughout 2013. The windows, overlooking a public space, made the art highly visible. All forms of art were welcomed, including illustration, graphic design, projections, and interactive installations. According to creative producer Oyuki Matsumoto, the focus was on creating interesting work rather than specific formats. Each artist’s exhibition lasted about four weeks. The project included online promotion and video documentation of the creation process. After each exhibition, new artists took over the space.

reCERATE works with creative reuse and was one of the first projects that STPLN housed. It is a material bank with a creative workshop where industrial waste gets repurposed and a new life as creative materials. The project strives to promote environmental awareness, equality, and creativity. @aterskapa

SMART was funded by the Creative Force Program of the Swedish Institute, that supports projects with the aim of strengthening democracy, freedom of expression and human rights through media and art.

This project was based on a simple yet powerful idea: if more people realize how easy it is to get around by bike—especially in urban environments—cycling will naturally become a primary mode of transport for many. By encouraging this shift, the project aimed to create widespread awareness in society about what improved public health, reduced carbon emissions, cleaner air, and more space in cities could lead to. Through awareness, accessibility, and community engagement, the project aimed to make cycling the preferred choice for everyday transportation.

The Bike Kitchen Malmö is a non-profit organization with a shared DIY bicycle workshop. Here, you cannot buy bikes or drop yours off for repair. However, with the help of Cykelköket’s volunteers and tools, you can repair your bike yourself! They also organize courses—ranging from simple flat tire repair workshops to advanced courses that span over several months. The courses are tailored to the group's skills, experience, and ambitions. They started at STPLNs previous space and can now be found in Augustenborg in Malmö. cykelkoket.com