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The Kopli Makers Festival (Kopli Isetegemise Festival in the Estonian language) is a pioneer festival in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, that celebrates DIY culture, local production, repairing and practical skills. It promotes ecological awareness and sustainable lifestyles. The second edition of the festival took place in the Kopli area on August 21, 2022.
The festival took place along Koplifest, the annual festival of North-Tallinn district, dedicated to film music this year. The festival activities took place simultaneously in three different locations: Kopli 93, a North-Tallinn district’s community centre; Kase park, a recently renovated area for leisure activities; and Põhjala factory, an old industrial area transformed into a community hub populated with sustainability-oriented small local business, crafters and makers.
A summer day full of activities
Several companies, specialists, and educators presented their work experience, imbued in old and new knowledge, and passion. The programmed activities included 19 free workshops.
At Kopli 93, attendants had the opportunity to see how to make an insect hotel from reed by Urmas Veersalu, learn the ABC of beekeeping from the Tallinn Beekeepers Society, or enjoy the company of occupational therapist Ella Kari during an edible herbs workshop that included tasting samples and sharing recipes. There was also a clay therapy workshop by psychologist Margarita Kerson-Saulis, and two workshops on blacksmithing and vegetable plug-making by the Tallinn Kopli vocational school. Besides, people from Precious Plastic Estonia showcased how to inject recycled plastic from bottle caps to build objects such as card holders.
Põhjala factory hosted several workshops from the local makers and crafters: a workshop on making keychains from broken rubber bands offered by BOTIK; a workshop making cards with Estonian plants suitable for gifts provided by P H É R E (Studio House, Room 209); a workshop on personalising objects with hot press and vinyl stickers provided by My Unicorn (Smithy, room 206) suitable for adults and children; and a workshop on making personalised lamp domes using traditional methods offered by NaguMuiste (Studio House, room 207).
Additionally, the Tartu Community Repair Space brought their repair bus to the festival, teaching the attendants how to sharpen cutting tools and integrate 3D printing into repair work. Kaluri 7 Ceramics House offered us a workshop run by the master Aire Hint. The festival also displayed two exhibitions, including “Tastes of Kopli” from Kalamaja muuseum and the photo exhibition “Art of repair” by the Estonian National Museum. There was a panel on “Local resilience – a prospect for future?” led by Karin Kruup from Kopli 93 and CENTRINNO project., featuring Dr. Alexandros Pazaitis from the P2P Lab and TalTech.
The festival featured many other charming activities, including the opening of Kopli 93’s Makerspace, the Põhjala market, a lemonade bar offered by BOTIK at the Põhjala rooftop garden, an excursion to the new building of the Põhjala factory at Ankru 10, and free rooftop cinema in the Põhjala roof garden.
If you want to know more about future editions of the Kopli Isetegemise Festival, stay tuned to our social networks:
Photographs by Elo Strauss.
Story by Fab City Foundation