Utrecht’s roadmap was finalised in August 2022. However, in October 2022, the decision was taken by the parties involved that the Machinerie cannot be developed in a feasible and responsible way under the current circumstances, mainly because the cultural sector in the Netherlands has not yet recovered from the impact of the Covid and the uncertain future due to the current price increases of energy and construction costs.

Vision

The Machinerie will be a creative, sustainable hotspot and a testing hub for creative crossovers, while being an accessible place that acts as a central networking web for the creatives and the neighbourhood.

The Machinerie is strongly connected to the historic urban area where it is located, the Werkspoorkwartier, by becoming its core hotspot via collaborative projects and placemaking opportunities that involve and strengthen the community and trigger the branding of the Machinerie.

The Werkspoorkwartier

The HUB-IN area is located in the historic industrial area – the Werkspoorkwartier – which is a triangular shaped area of 45 hectares located at the geographical centre of the city of Utrecht. It is an area that hosted old factory buildings for steel production, particularly trains and bridge constructions, and which is now being redeveloped into a cultural and creative district.

Values

• Creative, inspiring and stimulating
• Linking and connecting
• At the heart of society, open, accessible and inclusive

Missions

The aim for the Werkspoorkwartier is to become an exciting urban destination with a mix of authentic public spaces and alternative places to meet, visit and enjoy. Here visitors find food and drinks, sports, playgrounds, neighbourhood workshops, films, exhibitions, concerts and events in unesxpected locations. The Machinerie Will contribute to further develop this vibrant environment: diverse, open outward looking and interconnected.

Mission 1 | Define and implement an appropriate governance structure for the Machinerie

• Develop the Machinerie’s organisational structure
• Develop the cooperation agreement between the Machinerie and its partners
• Develop a clear tenant management and coordination process and prepare the tenant agreement

Mission 2 | Launch and present the Machinerie to the wider audience

• Organise and implement an opening festival with diverse events
• Develop and start the main programming lines and seasonal programme in collaboration with the community, initiators and other stakeholders
• Build a strong brand and marketing and communication strategy

Mission 3 | Boost innovation and creativity via talent development programmes

• Develop the Machinerie Talenthub as an interdisciplinary training and talent development programme stimulating knowledge exchange
• Contribute to shaping a media-wise youth
• Share knowledge and inspire residents and the wider public

Mission 4 | Promote community building, networking and exchange to co-create the Machinerie

• Co-design the Machinerie building and the community structure of the Machinerie together with the Machiniers by keeping their goals and needs at core
• Stimulate exchange and connection within the Machinerie community
• Develop a tenant selection process (criteria, values, principles and ethics) and tool
• Develop a Machinerie Platform to ensure visibility of the different members of the Community

Mission 5 | Connect the Machinerie to the Utrechters and to the Werkspoorkwartier, its circular pioneers and creative entrepreneurs and build on its history

• Develop and implement placemaking activities in the area actively involving residents and stakeholders in the Werkspoorkwartier
• Connect to the City of Utrecht, the Utrechters and key stakeholders
• Provide insight into current and future urban and infrastructural developments in and around the area

Annexes

The following annexes can be consulted at this link:

• ANNEX 1 – Enablers, challenges, solutions and key measures linked to the 5 Missions
• ANNEX 2 – Tenant selection process and criteria – preliminary considerations