The ꓘommune (Kommune)

Training in photography ranges from self learning, often with the aid of platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo to formal courses offered by Universities and Technical institutions.

In the US market there are a number of organisations which provide high quality training to the top end of the amateur market and to serious artists with a practice based on photography. These include organisations such as Santa Fe, Bostik and Sullivan, and The Photographers Formulary.

However, while there is equivalent training in Europe, the market is is highly fragmented. There are no major centres, which act as an identifiable focal point for the community.

Education and training across the former Soviet states is even more fragmented. Much of the market aimed at amateurs is provided at the very budget end of the market.

The ꓘommune aims to provide a well equipped, highly credible middle to high end training ecosystem to amateur and arts-based photographers across the European continent. Courses will be both by subject, and by technology, and will be delivered by guest specialist lecturers.

It is our intention to locate The ꓘommune in Eastern Europe within 1 hour of an airport regularly serviced by EasyJet and Ryanair. This makes the facility available to both western Europe and to Russia and former Soviet states. Our intention is to offer courses to 80:20 western:eastern markets.

At it’s completion, The ꓘommune will provide:

• classrooms
• accommodation for students and guest lecturers
• specialist space including darkrooms, studios, and exhibition quality printing space
• specialist equipment including darkroom equipment, studio lighting, specialist cameras, processing equipment
• gallery space including coffee bar
• facility restaurant and bar
• sub-lease space to related specialist industries such as chemistry provision, exhibition quality mounting and framing environment

The customer service objective of The ꓘommune is to provide high quality training in an immersive environment with like minded individuals and above all to provide a positive but different life experience to its participants.

And finally, The ꓘommune recognises that it is important to engage with the local community. It is our intention to provide access to guest lecturers to local art students on the basis that free or highly subsidised single day training will be scheduled against paid courses.

From a marketing perspective, it is our intention is to brand the top end of the amateur and artistic short course market under “ The ꓘommune” name. A sign off success will be when “I a going to The ꓘommune” becomes common vernacular in the photographic community.

The startup costs for The ꓘommune project are estimated to be €550,000. The intention is to prove the facility during the Christmas/New Year 2021 and to be fully open for business in April 2022.

The main milestones are: