Saving the planet one prop at a time: Stockholm’s material magasinet’s challenge
Project: creating a circular economy model for cultural materials & objects
The Purpose
Stockholm’s Material Magasinet (Material Storehouse) aims to address the excess waste produced by the cultural sector by creating a common storage facility for discarded materials, props and furniture. Its purpose is to divert tons of material waste from landfills and provide a place for cultural organizations to donate, reuse and upcycle materials.
The Challenge
The main challenges in delivering the program include convincing potential partners that their participation will be cost and time-effective and navigating legal considerations, as the Swedish Public Procurement Act prohibits donations. It’s also vital to manage the complexity of organising and coordinating the operations of the Material Magasinet.
“The Material Magasinet has diverted significant material waste from landfills and created a network of material storehouses across Sweden.”
The Solution
The Material Magasinet creates a storage facility for discarded material, allowing creatives, including art students and set designers, to rent or buy low-cost items from the storehouse. They can access the catalogue of products online or in person. The storehouse supplies a wide range of products and materials, including wood, steel, glass, plastic, textiles, electronics, props, set decor and exhibition technology. The project is led and managed by Kulturhuset Stadsteatern Stockholm City Theatre and the City Arts Centre, with partnerships from 15 cultural institutions, creating a forum for knowledge exchange around waste reduction and reuse.
The Impact
The Material Magasinet has diverted significant material waste from landfills and created a network of material storehouses across Sweden. It has encouraged collaboration between students, environmental scientists, designers and organizations to find creative ways to recycle and reuse materials. The financing is raised from monthly fees from participating cultural institutions and rent from customers, ensuring the initiative’s sustainability. This project has a positive environmental impact and fosters closer relationships between participating cultural institutions while promoting sustainability and waste reduction.
Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022
Images Courtesy © Getty/Canva
