This Shareable series highlights people around the world who are “supersharers.” These are individuals who are deeply involved in makerspaces, coworking hubs, art collectives, worker cooperatives, community gardens — basically initiatives in which people can freely share knowledge, skills, resources, and more, with each other.
Juan Manuel Aranovich based in Buenos Aires, Argentina 
What sharing projects are you involved in?
I am a co-founder of Club Cultural Matienzo, a worker-managed cooperative for artists, actors, and musicians. I also work with Escena (autonomous scenic spaces) a group that represents independent theatres and Cultura Unida which includes groups such as, CLUMVI (music venues agrupation), SCENE and many others. I founded MECA (Buenos Aires’ Movement of Self-Managed Spaces). Through MECA, I participated in passing a law with the city of Buenos Aires regarding licenses for cultural centers in December 2014.
What inspired you to get involved in these endeavors?
I believe that cultural transformation is the most important battle of our time.
Does your city have any laws or policies that make it easy for residents to share resources?
On the contrary, in our city there are only laws and policies that promote individual entrepreneurship.
What are some of the challenges that either you or your collaborators have faced in setting up or participating in sharing projects?
The first big challenge we face is the complexity of building collaborative economic models since there is not enough knowledge on the subject in the cultural sector. Constantly working in opposition to the municipal government is also a big problem since it requires a lot of effort to carry out public policies that strengthen the bonds of collaboration.
What steps did you or your collaborators take to overcome those challenges?
The first step towards a solution was to identify all the actors involved that were facing similar problems and to start organizing meetings. Cultural centers opened prior to this year took the lead in organizing meetings to exchange ideas as they understand the situation, and we jointly found a solution. Viewing ourselves as a network of collaborators rather than as competitors was key.
We identified our four main issues: high cost of supplies, an audience that was unaware of the alternative cultural circuit, legal obstacles to open cultural spaces, and adverse conditions for artistic development. We then worked together to combat the problems by buying our supplies together, working together to produce festivals, creating an NGO of lawyers who offered pro bono advice on cultural projects, and reaching an agreement among all cultural spaces within the network to ensure fair conditions for artists.
What advice would you give to Shareable’s readers who are interested in joining or launching sharing programs like the one(s) you’re involved in?
There are no impossible challenges. There are no fixed structures. There are only people in constant movement.
Meet ‘supersharer’ Jordan Fleming in Sydney, Australia 
Shareable: Where are you based?
Jordan Fleming: I’m based in Sydney, Australia.
What sharing projects are you involved in?
I have mainly been involved in the Sharing Map Sydney project. The Sharing Map can be most simply described as a sharing resource directory. Its aim is to show people in Sydney what sharing resources are available around them — to help both facilitate engagement and enable more community interaction.
What inspired you to get involved in these endeavors?
As a recent graduate in Media Arts, I was keen to get involved in illustrative and creative work. However, it isn’t enough for me to simply be able to draw for work. I enjoyed researching and writing at university too much. I’ve wanted work that would allow me to not only draw, but that would also push me to think and explore new ideas. When I discovered the Sharing Map Sydney, I found an opportunity to produce works that would delve into concepts of the sharing economy, a concept which until then I was entirely unfamiliar with.
Does your city have any laws or policies that make it easy for residents to share resources?
The City of Sydney provided the initial grant funding for the Sharing Map. Sydney’s city council puts effort into enabling community enrichment in their district — several months ago they published a Social Sustainability Action Plan. A key issue in regards for sharing resources is that Sydney consists of numerous fragmented local councils. As such policy, support, and resources for sharing can be inconsistent between areas.
What are some of the challenges that either you or your collaborators have faced in setting up or participating in sharing projects?
One of the main challenges initially was gaining exposure and interest in the sharing economy from the general public. While the concepts behind the sharing economy are beautiful, to commit to them is admittedly hard work. Being an alternative economy means that to be engaged in the projects, people need to step outside the habits formed by our larger society in Sydney. A key challenge in my illustrations was to make these ideas more accessible and less challenging for people new to the sharing economy.
Another challenge that I found in building up the Sharing Map was inherent in its desire to become a coordinator between sharing projects in Sydney. Since sharing projects generally proliferate at small local levels, there is an obvious need for coordination between various groups within a large city such as Sydney. A resource map such as the Sharing Map has the potential to fill this need. However, such an undertaking increases the demand upon a resource mapping project enormously — to have the infrastructure to support coordinating groups and to convince them to be a part of it.
What steps did you or your collaborators take to overcome those challenges?
I began to develop content for the Sharing Map to post online and to use at live events. The content largely consisted of infographics, zines, and illustrations to help express and explain the concepts and motivations behind the sharing economy in Sydney.
What advice would you give to Shareable’s readers who are interested in joining or launching sharing programs like the one(s) you’re involved in?
I would suggest that readers get involved in the sharing economy — it heightens community engagement and brings a sense of social connectedness. To be a part of the sharing economy goes well beyond the rational arguments of saving resources and money. I was surprised by just how much the experience of meeting, working, and sharing with others in my community brought me joy and excitement. In this regard the sharing economy has been an immensely fulfilling experience for me.
Meet ‘supersharer’ Emma Öhrwall in Gothenburg, Sweden
Shareable: Where are you based?
Emma Öhrwall: I am based in Gothenburg, Sweden.
What sharing projects are you involved in?
I’ve been a part of the collaborative movement since 2014. I co-founded the nonprofit Kollaborativ Ekonomi Göteborg that runs smartakartan.se, a map and website, in collaboration with the City of Gothenburg. I also worked for the nonprofit education association Studiefrämjandet that enables bike kitchens, toy libraries, solidarity fridges, repair cafés, swapping, skill sharing, and more. Recently I just started as a process manager for Sharing City Gothenburg, for the City of Gothenburg. It’s a testbed where both civic, public, and private initiatives will be supported and evaluated during 2018-2020.
What inspired you to get involved in these endeavors?
It gives me hope and could be a part of a sustainable future. I get really inspired by working with solutions and see how the initiatives change the city and also individuals’ life for the better.
Are there any individuals or organizations that helped you get involved in these project?
There are many but I would say it’s the movement — local and global. We help each other.
Does your city have any laws or policies that make it easy for residents to share resources?
In the city budget for 2018, it says that the city should promote and support circular and sharing economy. There is also several strategic documents about sustainability where sharing is mentioned and seen as a solution.
What are some of the challenges that either you or your collaborators have faced in setting up or participating in sharing projects?
It’s been difficult to find spaces to rent. It’s also challenging to find financial support and change people’s behavior from ownership to access. Another challenge is to measure the impact of each initiative.
What steps did you or your collaborators take to overcome those challenges?
We collaborated with those who had space to share, and we’ve been applying for funding. Through the testbed Sharing City Gothenburg, we will evaluate and measure impact of some of the initiatives.
What advice would you give to Shareable’s readers who are interested in joining or launching sharing programs like the one(s) you’re involved in?
I would say team up with others and share space. By doing so, you will use your resources wisely and build a stronger community. First step is to map the existing initiatives and then together create a community and enable new initiatives. When you reach the next phase, have strategies to meet the different needs both from citizens and initiatives. Then collaborate to meet these needs, for example learn more about your users, find sustainable business models and enable behavior change, but also measure the impact.
Meet ‘supersharer’ Anju Ishiyama in Tokyo, Japan
By ShareableIn this new Shareable series, we’ll be highlighting people around the world who are “supersharers.” These are individuals who are deeply involved in makerspaces, coworking hubs, art collectives, worker cooperatives, community gardens — basically initiatives in which people can freely share knowledge, skills, resources, and more, with each other. We’re thrilled to introduce you to our first supersharer — Anju Ishiyama, general manager of public relations at the Sharing Economy Association of Japan (Shareable is an advisor to this group). Here’s some background about Ishiyama’s work, in her own words.
Where are you based? I’m based in Tokyo, Japan.
What sharing projects are you involved in?
I’ve been involved in lobbying for sharing economy laws and regulations in Japan, as I’m in charge of public affairs at the Sharing Economy Association of Japan. I’m also an official speaker about the sharing economy and use social media to educate people about the sharing lifestyle. Additionally, I’ve created a collective living and working space called Cift, in Shibuya, Tokyo.
What inspired you to get involved in these endeavors?
The most important impact of the sharing economy in a society that runs on the concept of “volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity” is that the power shifts from centralized organization to individuals and community. This has the potential to solve social problems facing Japan right now.
Are there any individuals or organizations that helped you get involved in these projects?
One is the Sharing Economy Association of Japan and the second is Cift, the collective living and working space.
Does your city have any laws or policies that make it easy for residents to share resources?
There are many regulations on the sharing economy in Japan.
What are some of the challenges that either you or your collaborators have faced in setting up or participating in sharing projects?
One is the regulation problem. For example, ride sharing is still not really allowed in Japan [to the extent it is in other countries]. And the second, is the consumers’ awareness towards peer-to-peer business model. The biggest concern for potential users about the sharing economy is the response in case of trouble or accident as well as the reliability of hosts and the safety of services and products.
What steps did you or your collaborators take to overcome those challenges?
We’ve been lobbying and creating social movements using public relations as a tool.
What advice would you give to Shareable’s readers who are interested in joining or launching sharing programs like the one(s) you’re involved in?
I would suggest using public relations to communicate a vision of how the sharing economy can be used to solve social problems.
Meet ‘supersharer’ Patricia Morgan in Sydney, Australia
Patricia Morgan, postdoctoral research fellow at the School of Information Systems at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Here’s some background about Morgan’s work, in her own words.
Shareable: Where are you based?
Patricia Morgan: I am based in Sydney, Australia.
What sharing projects are you involved in?
I work with the Sharing Map Sydney collective to enhance awareness of and engagement with the Sharing Economy in Sydney and more widely. The collective strengthen collaborative and healthy communities in Sydney by facilitating access to Sydney’s shared resources.
What inspired you to get involved in these endeavors?
I was inspired to work in the sharing and new economy after witnessing and being negatively impacted by the economic rationalism directing the tertiary education sector I worked in. I was disheartened by the inhumane ways I saw people being treated and was looking for new more holistic, human, and democratic ways of working together.
Are there any individuals or organizations that helped you get involved in these projects?
I was introduced to the sharing and new economy through a lecture and workshop given by Michel Bauwens from the P2P Foundation. This led to a conversation with Darren Sharp in Melbourne, who introduced me to some of the members of our group, and then this led to my connection with the New Economy Network of Australia.
Does your city have any laws or policies that make it easy for residents to share resources?
I don’t think there are specific laws or policies, though our group was funded by the City of Sydney to run a Mapjam and a series of community workshops. I think the City of Sydney’s Resilience Strategy indirectly supports sharing.
What are some of the challenges that either you or your collaborators have faced in setting up or participating in sharing projects?
One of the major challenges is the lack of awareness about the sharing economy in the community. While there are individuals and groups working in the sharing economy here in Sydney, we found when taking our work out into the community there wasn’t a lot of awareness about the sharing economy, what it is, and the benefits of participating in it.
What steps did you or your collaborators take to overcome those challenges?
We believe our Sharing Map is the first step in awareness raising, and we are now currently looking at ways to join with aligned groups in Sydney to start working on this challenge.
What advice would you give to Shareable’s readers who are interested in joining or launching sharing programs like the one(s) you’re involved in?
Join with others who are interested in the sharing and collaborative economy and around your kitchen tables look at ways to start developing a project. We started in this way and after a number of meetings and cups of tea we successfully applied to the City of Sydney to run a Mapjam and four community workshops in Sydney. Though you wouldn’t have to create a project such as a Mapjam there are many initiatives that support sharing. For example, we’ve recently been involved with a clothes swap, partnering with a local Transition group — that was very successful. It doesn’t have to be a big project — three of us in our apartment building have put a small garden in our backyard and now have monthly working bees — weeding for an hour, drinking tea, and eating cakes afterwards. It’s great to get to know each other this way and when new people move into the building. It’s really nice to invite them to the working bee or to offer them some herbs from the garden.
