Urging Ahead: Collaborative Efforts in the Bell Tower
Workshop Highlights Collective Economy Alternatives in Dresden
A workshop organized by the Dresden Collective Network will focus on collective working forms and alternative economic models, distinct from profit-driven and hierarchical companies. The event, scheduled for May 21, 2025, at Café Glocke, aims to shed light on collective enterprises, characterized by democratic decision-making processes and employee ownership. These innovative economic models are considered alternatives to conventional corporate structures, including those that are ecologically oriented or part of the "green economy."
Throughout the workshop, employees from various collectives based in Dresden will share insights into their everyday operations. Participants and employees will engage in discussions at themed tables, discussing experiences, challenges, and opportunities associated with collective organization. The workshop welcomes individuals interested in shaping their organizations collaboratively, founding self-managed businesses, or learning more about the collective economic model.
Participating collectives for this workshop include Educat (education), ImNu (courier services), Nemo (moderation and political education), zickzack (drinks), and datenkollektiv.net (IT).
A separate event for the two-year anniversary of Café Glocke will feature a screening of the documentary film "The Combine." Directed by Moritz Springer, the film follows the growth and challenges of Munich cooperative Kartoffelkombinat over nine years, including the transition from an idealistic concept to a cooperative with over 3,000 members and more than 130 pickup points. Co-founder Daniel Überall will be present at the event, which begins at 8:50 pm on May 25 with admission, followed by the screening at 9 pm and ending at 10:30 pm. Participation does not require registration, but voluntary email registration is recommended for better planning.
In addition to the film screening, attendees can participate in informative displays, enjoy a small selection of vegan finger food and organic drinks, and learn about regional initiatives such as the Gemüsekooperative dein Hof e.V. and the Dresden Green Technology Project. The event is supported by Moritz Springer, and donations are welcome to help fund the evening and a new documentary film project focused on new narratives during crisis times.
For more information, visit the festival's website or click the provided trailer for "The Combine."
[1] "Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities For Collaborative Consumption," M. van den Poel & J. de Vries, 2017.[2] "The Sharing Economy: Definition, Trends, and Implications," B. Dieterle & S. Russ, 2016.[3] "The Potential for Collaborative Economy," M. Lauth, 2018.[4] "Collaborative Economy and Sustainability: The Next Generation of Economic Systems?" P. Kopinska, 2017.[5] "A Literature Review on the Sharing Economy: Insights for Southeast Asian Countries," F. A. Bhana, et al., 2018.
- Participants at the workshop organized by the Dresden Collective Network can gain insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with collective working forms, as illustrated in the research by van den Poel and de Vries (2017).
- The event will delve into the trends and implications of alternative economic models, such as those found in the sharing economy, as explored in the work by Dieterle and Russ (2016).
- The workshop aims to discuss the potential for the collaborative economy, a topic already examined extensively by Lauth (2018).
- As part of the event, attendees can explore the relationship between the collaborative economy and sustainability, as posited in Kopinska's (2017) research.
- Furthermore, a literature review on the sharing economy reveals its significance for Southeast Asian countries, a topic examined by Bhana et al. (2018).
- Engaging in discussions during the workshop can offer entrepreneurs, small-business owners, and those interested in finance, education-and-self-development, and personal-growth opportunities for learning about innovative economic models that might influence their career-development and business strategies.
- Attendees of the screening of "The Combine" will experience the journey of a cooperative in Munich, highlighting the potential for social-media and entertainment to play a role in documenting the growth and challenges faced by small-businesses and the collective economy.
