Fablab Nervecentre

Northern Ireland Fablab - local peace and reconciliation plans

5-6 Magazine Street, Derry~Londonderry BT48 6HJ

Fab Lab Design & Innovation center Incubator Community center City public space

Space size 250 m²

Opened in May 2013

Structure type Public Institution

Explored in January 2019

Nerve Centre is Northern Ireland’s leading creative media arts centre. The Nerve Centre is home to one of Ireland’s first FabLabs, which delivers community access to training and education around digital design and fabrication for learners of all ages and abilities.

Contact

info@nervecentre.org
+44 28 7126 0562
https://www.nervecentre.org/content/fablab
Member of Fab Labs world network and VULCA

Social networks

Main interests

Technology - machines & tools Social initiatives Entrepreneurship Education Social diversity Social Innovation

This workshop is great for:

General public Artists Public organisations Seniors Non-profit organisations Schools & universities Entrepreneurs Hobbyist makers Every single person & organisation! Makers residency

Interview & guided tour

Meet someone from the team & discover the space by yourself!

Our workshop

Learn more about our space, members, machines & services!

Northern Ireland has a long story behind. The importance of developing longer-term capacity for peacebuilding was recognised in investing in projects to increase institutional capacity to engage in peacebuilding. Projects were funded that engaged with the criminal justice system, universities, planning, trade unions and the community sector, with the aim of contributing to peace and reconciliation.

Our Fablabs in Derry~Londonderry and Belfast are hosting and contributing to discussion panels and workshops on the role of Fablabs in post-conflict / divided societies, community engagement, and education.

The Programme PEACE III which is supporting the creation of these fablabs recognised the importance of creating new shared civic spaces, creating new opportunities contact and engagement.

More to see on this LINK

At Fab Lab we have friendly and knowledgeable technical staff on hand to assist you through the process of making your idea come to reality.

Also, the project currently has two Fab Labs, one in Belfast and one in Derry/Londonderry. In each of these cities, two different organisations run one of our Fablab :

  • Ashton Community Trust runs Fab Lab Belfast.
  • The Nerve Centre runs Fab Lab Nerve Centre.

The Nerve Centre is Northern Ireland’s leading creative media arts centre. A successful social economy enterprise, the Nerve Centre employs more than 40 staff at sites in Derry~Londonderry and Belfast.

Both sites host a Fablab accessible for everyone (including users with disabilities) who need access to technology and learn with others.

Whether you’re a business, entrepreneur/inventor, school, part of a community group, or just a hobbyist, FabLab gives you the tools to bring your product ideas to life by educating users with the knowledge to develop new ideas, designs and products, allowing them to gain the technical skills to turn concepts into products.

We work directly with schools, youth and church groups, and also offer a number of programmes that encourage members of the public, irrespective of age, gender or community background to get creative and use the facilities within the Lab.

We help with rapid prototyping and low-cost on-demand manufacturing offer commercial business and micro-enterprises the ability to turn their ideas into working proof of concept models in a local setting.

©/Lorcan Doherty Photography - 10th November 2014FabLab NI Conference ‘Fabricating the Future’Photo Lorcan Doherty Photography

Established in 2012 with support from the EU Peace Programme and MIT, as the first Fablabs on the island of Ireland, Fablab NI has pioneered programmes around social impact and community transformation through making and digital technologies.

Making the Future - A major cross-border cultural programme being delivered by a consortium of leading cultural organisations including:

  • Nerve Centre,
  • National Museums NI,
  • Public Record Office NI and Linen Hall Library,

Supported through €1.82m of European Union funding under the PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Making the Future delivers varied engagement programmes, major exhibitions, conferences and one-off events, empowering people to explore the past and create a powerful vision for future change.

Northern Ireland has a long story behind. The importance of developing longer-term capacity for peacebuilding was recognised in investing in projects to increase institutional capacity to engage in peacebuilding. Projects were funded that engaged with the criminal justice system, universities, planning, trade unions and the community sector, with the aim of contributing to peace and reconciliation.

Our Fablabs in Derry~Londonderry and Belfast are hosting and contributing to discussion panels and workshops on the role of Fablabs in post-conflict / divided societies, community engagement, and education.

The Programme PEACE III which is supporting the creation of these fablabs recognised the importance of creating new shared civic spaces, creating new opportunities contact and engagement.

More to see on this LINK

At Fab Lab we have friendly and knowledgeable technical staff on hand to assist you through the process of making your idea come to reality.

Also, the project currently has two Fab Labs, one in Belfast and one in Derry/Londonderry. In each of these cities, two different organisations run one of our Fablab :

  • Ashton Community Trust runs Fab Lab Belfast.
  • The Nerve Centre runs Fab Lab Nerve Centre.

The Nerve Centre is Northern Ireland’s leading creative media arts centre. A successful social economy enterprise, the Nerve Centre employs more than 40 staff at sites in Derry~Londonderry and Belfast.

Both sites host a Fablab accessible for everyone (including users with disabilities) who need access to technology and learn with others.

Whether you’re a business, entrepreneur/inventor, school, part of a community group, or just a hobbyist, FabLab gives you the tools to bring your product ideas to life by educating users with the knowledge to develop new ideas, designs and products, allowing them to gain the technical skills to turn concepts into products.

We work directly with schools, youth and church groups, and also offer a number of programmes that encourage members of the public, irrespective of age, gender or community background to get creative and use the facilities within the Lab.

We help with rapid prototyping and low-cost on-demand manufacturing offer commercial business and micro-enterprises the ability to turn their ideas into working proof of concept models in a local setting.

©/Lorcan Doherty Photography - 10th November 2014FabLab NI Conference ‘Fabricating the Future’Photo Lorcan Doherty Photography

Established in 2012 with support from the EU Peace Programme and MIT, as the first Fablabs on the island of Ireland, Fablab NI has pioneered programmes around social impact and community transformation through making and digital technologies.

Making the Future - A major cross-border cultural programme being delivered by a consortium of leading cultural organisations including:

  • Nerve Centre,
  • National Museums NI,
  • Public Record Office NI and Linen Hall Library,

Supported through €1.82m of European Union funding under the PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Making the Future delivers varied engagement programmes, major exhibitions, conferences and one-off events, empowering people to explore the past and create a powerful vision for future change.

Machines & tools available

Ultimaker 2 3d printer Ultimaker 2+ 3D printer Roland Modela MDX 20 3D scanner 3D Sense 3D Printer MAKERBOT REPLICATOR 2 ShopBot PRSAIphaWork Delta Mod 3D printer Vynil cutter Roland GX-24 X-carve CNC Machine Sindoh 3DWOX1 Epilog Laser - Legend Mini 18 Epilog Laser - Legend Mini 24

Technologies & processes available

3D printing 3D scanning Laser cutting Vinyl cutting CNC milling Electronics Photo & video Robotics Wood working tools

Services offered

Education missions Community center Talks & conferences Pop-up workshops Repairing objects Residency programs Social Innovation Creativity sessions Maker Education Classes & workshops

Our best practices

The inspiring things we do here to run our collaborative space

Nervecentre Best Practices

categories
Community Ecosystem & partnerships Events Training Education

Reimagine Remake Replay

Created for young people aged 16-25, Reimagine Remake Replay aims to connect young people and heritage through meaningful ways using creative media and the latest technologies.

Participants explore museum collections using various creative means such as virtual reality, creative writing, film-making, podcasting and more.

The project is delivered by a consortium including Nerve Centre, National Museums Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Museums Council and Northern Ireland Screen, and is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Kick the Dust programme.

Read more

Derry~Londonderry & Belfast Creative Learning Centres

The Creative Learning Centres provide training, resources and advice to teachers and learners around digital technologies and creativity.

Using activities such as filming a chemistry experiment, creating a math-based computer game or 3D printing a historical monument, creative learning helps students think more deeply and learn about a subject.

The centres are independent and non-commercial, funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen and inspected by the ETI.

Read more

Foyle Film Festival

Now in its 33rd year, the festival is one of only a handful in the UK to be Oscar® and BAFTA accredited.

The prestigious Light In Motion (LIM) competition offers filmmakers, animators and artists a unique platform to screen their films, network with industry professionals and gain access to the international market.

As well as the main programme in November, Foyle Film Festival holds the Intercultural & Anti-Racism Festival in March, plus a Summer Programme. The festival also offers a number of workshops, educational screenings, outreach and special events.

Read more

Free 3D Printers for Schools Project

Our makers projects

Get inspired by the DIY projects of our team & members

SENDING MAKERS IN RESIDENCY

Residency Maker in Slovenia

Eamon, lab manager of Nervecentre fablab in Northern-Ireland had a chance to be maker in residency in Ljubljana.

ROGLAB OPEN: ACTIVE AGING

The residency project aims to draw the attention of both maker/designers and the public to the needs of the elderly, and to encourage the production of products and services aimed especially at them.

Read more

FUTURE ARTIST-MAKER

In between 2015 and 2017, we have send and host Artist-Makers in residency in between Ireland and Spain. Future Artist Maker Labs is an exciting international programme of art-making, exhibition, training, and networking.

Future Artist-Maker Labs harnessed the creative power of 3 leading Labs in Derry~Londonderry, Limerick and Madrid, in an exciting international programme of art-making, exhibition, training, and networking.

The project had 4 elements:

  • International residencies which will conclude with an European Artist-maker exhibition in Madrid in April 2017
  • Artist-maker apprenticeships and accredited training
  • Student Artist-Maker Bootcamp
  • Community Creative engagement programme

More detail about the residency project :

  • Total project grant : 200K€
  • Programme : Creative Europe
  • Sub-programme : Culture
  • Call number : EACEA 32/2014
  • Project date : 1 Jun 2015 - 30 May 2017
  • Number of partners in project : 3
  • Lead organisation : The Nerve Centre
  • Partners : University of Limerick (Ireland); Ultra-lab (Madrid)
Read more

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