The Precarious Current State of London Maker Culture

Formnext

Share this Article

The Future of the UK

Something has been brought to my attention continuously on my travels to Maker Spaces in London. London is a place where creativity is their main export. The issue lies that people are losing their ability to do so. Why do I say this? Based on the current state of affairs with Brexit as well as other local conversations I have had, I will try to explain.

Makers in London are lacking support and empowerment. London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. With this, naturally the cost of living is a large concern. With cost of living being so high in areas where makers operate, it drives them away from living within these areas. This causes longer commutes and a disconnect from the greater London community. Open Workshop Network is a great mapping tool that outlines maker spaces of various kinds in London. The highly populated areas on this map tend toward more expensive real estate. People like being near what is cool and hip if they can afford it. The areas in London where creative people are have grown in terms of urbanization and gentrification rates. This renders most freelancers in these spaces to move away from these neighborhoods.

Makers Cafe

Makers in London do not have a lot of social capital support. People and organizations have been pulling away investment from various spaces. Capital is important for running these spaces as the equipment in them is not cheap. Outside of capital, social support is the main driver of these organizations. When money is dis-invested it sends a larger message. It directly states that people with money do not care to help these type of institutions. This ripples down to larger community structures, and ultimately growth cannot happen. This is especially pertinent when it comes to the cost of rent rising. If an organization loses funding, they have to move. A lot of organizations in London have been subject to this recently. Relocation also affects membership structures and can cause lose of funds from membership dues. With a move, an organization may lose members based on different commutes. It is a recipe of uncertainty and precariousness.

There are a lack of grants for makerspaces in London as well. Various spaces around the world have access to grants. London does not have this luxury. It paints a narrative of London being trapped within a box in terms of its maker culture. When one is strapped for options, life tends to become bleak.

London DIY Ideology

Brexit is also having a distinct effect on the larger structure of London Maker Culture. It truly is stifling the thoughts of foreigners coming to London and making. Typically, London has been an international hub for people to come and create. With rising rent prices as well as low social support and financial support for makers, it does not make sense for most people to come to London in pursuit of their maker lifestyle. The barriers of entry are continuously increasing, and it seems to hurt the inhabitants of London and the people who want to come to London. People are leaving London and they do not feel the need to water and grow the place. This is directly similar to how the maker culture seems in London.

As someone who is interested in social causes and social impact, I would love to discuss with social impact investors on how this disinvestment in London is having a ripple effect on the maker culture here. It also is interesting because London is well known for its creativity around the world. With Brexit and various uncertainties, I wonder how this affects London moving forward.

Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.



Share this Article


Recent News

Havaianas Collaborates with Zellerfeld to Launch 3D Printed Flip-Flops

Data Dunes, AI Dreams: Additive Manufacturing’s Investment Puzzle



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

Consolidation in AM: How 2025 Is Shaping the Industry’s New Normal

The first half of 2025 has been marked by a clear shift in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry. Companies are no longer just focused on developing new tech by themselves....

Etsy Design Rule Change Reduces Selection of 3D Printed Goods

Online marketplace Etsy has implemented a rule change requiring all 3D printed goods on the site to be original designs. The update to the site’s Creativity Standards states, ¨Items produced using...

U.S. Congress Calls Out 3D Printing in Proposal for Commercial Reserve Manufacturing Network

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee moved the FY 2026 defense bill forward to the House floor. Included in the legislation is a $131 million proposal for...

Featured

Transforming From Tourist to Native: Duro CEO Michael Corr Explains Why the Company Rebuilt its PLM Software on AI

In these early innings of the AI boom, many market analysts have expressed concern that AI spend has gotten too far ahead of the technology’s proven ability to deliver significant...