Business Unusual Open Workshop

Since 2023, we have been on a journey to create a coworking space for migrants, aimed at helping them adapt more easily to a new environment.

With the support of Business Unusual, we gained deeper insight into the work of Polish organizations, visited various workshops, and shared our experiences. We also established an organizational structure, developed our online communities, and continue to move forward.

Our goal is to build an open workshop that includes spaces for sewing, woodworking, repairs, and other creative or practical activities.

What We Do

ARTel Initiative is an informal group uniting more than 70 people with diverse skills and professional backgrounds. Most of them are connected to creative industries, crafts, and manual work. The initiative supports communities with migration experience, creating a shared space for collaboration, integration, learning, and assistance in finding jobs aligned with their professions.

Our Idea

The idea was born out of a need to support migrants who came to Poland — both from Belarus, following the repressions after the 2020 elections, and from Ukraine, after the full-scale war began in February 2022.

Among the migrants from Eastern Europe, there are many skilled professionals in craft and manual trades. After leaving their home countries, they found themselves in a new reality and started searching for ways to apply their talents and skills. People began finding each other, connecting through social media, and organizing community meetups.