- Marked on August 9 each year, International Coworking Day celebrates the day in 2005 when the self-proclaimed pioneer of coworking, Brad Neuberg, mentioned it for the first time.
- On this day, coworking spaces worldwide open their doors to celebrate with their communities to spread awareness about coworking.
- The global coworking community shares what coworking means to them, and highlights some of their favorite workspaces on International Coworking Day 2023.
It’s August 9, which means just one thing in the coworking industry: Happy International Coworking Day!
Today, the global coworking community comes together to celebrate the power of coworking.
Why August 9?
International Coworking Day takes place on this day to mark when the self-proclaimed pioneer of coworking and American programmer Brad Neuberg published a blog post on August 9, 2005 announcing: “This week is the first week of coworking, something I am setting up.”
Neuberg invited creatives and “free spirits” to “come together in community” at Spiral Muse – “a feminist collective in the Mission district in San Francisco.” He urged people to “feel each other’s presence, run ideas by the community, or take breaks together at the watercooler.”
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August 9 was later highlighted in our calendars when coworking space operator Cadu de Castro Alves, and members of the Coworking Google Group forum, chose to celebrate International Coworking Day.
Celebrating International Coworking Day 2023
Today is a special day to celebrate with your coworking community. We reached out to global coworking spaces and communities to find out how they’re celebrating.
TownSq Islington
Hosting “Coffee, Cake & Cowork” to mark International Coworking Day with its community, London-based TownSq Islington is opening its doors for a coffee morning before giving everyone a chance to use the workspace for the rest of the day.
Anna Chuicharoen, Community Manager at TownSq Islington, believes it’s important to “give everyone an opportunity to try the experience of working within a professional setting.”
Clockwise Leith
An open day organized by Clockwise Leith in Edinburgh “promotes coworking for people who have never tried it before,” says General Manager, Steven Carr.
Clockwise Leith is offering a free day pass to try out its stunning coworking space, including some tasty treats. Throughout this month, Clockwise Leith plans to highlight its community members who’ll share why coworking works for them.
JAGA Workspaces
In celebration of International Coworking Day, JAGA Workspaces is running an Instagram competition giving contestants a chance to win a 5-day pass to any of its three coworking spaces in Canberra, Australia.
Swaroop Kaushik, founder and CEO at JAGA Workspaces, told us a little more about the workspaces:
“At JAGA we are focused on three Es – Engage, Empower, and Experience.
- Engage with the community and build meaningful relationships with other members within the community
- Empower, learn, share, and develop your skills by watching, speaking, and observing other members
- Experience our modern and beautifully designed workspace, which is filled with like-minded professionals from diverse industries, creating a dynamic community that fuels collaboration and innovation.
The community and the energy in JAGA is my fuel, I feel satisfied when I see my members thrive in whatever they are doing and feel privileged to be part of their success stories.”
Andy Stofferis
Founder of Sendabee, a full-remote digital marketing agency, Andy Stofferis has been a digital nomad for more than a decade. He’s traveled to over 60 destinations worldwide, and reckons he’s worked in more than 100 global coworking spaces.
When asked what the coworking movement means to him, Stofferis said, “I definitely think coworking is one of the best ways to meet both locals and foreigners in each destination. I’m an introvert, and coworking spaces really make things easier in that space. On top of that, I often meet potential partners through coworking spaces (eg. other marketers or content writers who are willing to work on common projects). So, the benefits are various to me.”
Today, Stofferis plans to cowork at Ferienlenk — a multi-purpose living and working hub in Lenk, Switzerland.
Fento Coworking
Repeating the fun they had on European Coworking Day in May, Fento Coworking in Vigo, Spain, is hosting a community lunch today, extending the invite to family members and their kids who are currently on summer break.
Community member, Bernie Mitchell, said, “When we cook for a group of people they get really into it. We eat much better, it’s a real community building thing. We sit down together and eat for 45 minutes. We eat fresh bread from the local bakery every day.”
Fento is situated on the world-famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage walk. The community interacts with international tourists passing through.
Coworking Rive-Sud
Celebrating International Coworking Day, Coworking Rive-Sud in Montreal, Canada, is getting members to reconnect after their vacations and welcoming new visitors to the workspace.
Marketing and Communications Manager Alexane Royer told us: “For this special event, we’re hosting an open day and offering free open spaces for the day…for the visitors to discover the benefits of coworking and have a look around our workspaces.”
Coworking Rive-Sud is hosting a communal lunch and tours of the workspace, too.
“Community is the strength of several people driven by the same interests, passions, and values,” said CEO and founder, Ian Patrick Thibault on what community means to him.
Peter Fabor
Peter Fabor, the founder of Surf Offices work retreats, is hosting “Cowork &” on Aug. 10 for a small group of people to cowork and lunch at an Amsterdam location.
Fabor has organized coworking days in many cities around the world. He says it’s “a fantastic way to activate your local remote work, digital nomad, and expat and freelance community.”
Projects
Opening its doors at both Brighton-based workspaces today, Projects is “inviting anyone who’s curious about the benefits of purpose-driven spaces and the power of connecting with like-minded individuals,” said Alex Young, Director at Projects.
Young tells us more about what community means to her team at Projects:
“Our mission to provide a home for better business drives us, ensuring that every individual feels valued and included within our inspiring spaces. With a commitment to equitable, high-performance workplaces, we offer the necessary support for everyone to excel, grow and achieve their professional best. Moreover, our dedication extends beyond business boundaries; we believe in our responsibility to the environment, striving to minimize carbon emissions and inspire our members to do the same. Join us today as we celebrate unity, innovation, and the spirit of coworking.”
Mantle Space
Today, U.K.-based Mantle Space opens the doors to all seven of its flexible office spaces located in Cambridge, Stansted, Chelmsford, Stevenage, and Abingdon. Offering complimentary coffee and delicious snacks, Mantle Space is giving every visitor the opportunity to have a look around its workspaces today.
Leah Ziliak
Coliving Consultant, Leah Ziliak, helps operators create better shared living experiences and build strong communities. She’s also the co-founder of Coliving Compass — a booking platform for global coliving spaces for nomads.
We asked Ziliak what she’s up to and which coworking spaces she’d like to highlight in celebration of International Coworking Day.
“I’ve spent the past three summers in Bansko. I’m always asked why I keep coming back to a small ski resort town in the middle of Bulgaria. But, if you’ve been here, you know — it’s all about the community. I came here for Nomad Fest initially and stayed for the coworking communities. All of the coworking spaces here in Bansko are great! Coworking Bansko is the original. I’m currently working from Altspace, which has three locations in town. And, Nestwork is the newest one,” she said.
Cat Johnson
U.S.-based Cat Johnson is the founder of Coworking Convos and The Lab (a club for indie operators).
When asked what she had planned for today, Johnson told us, “In the run-up to Coworking Day, I focus on helping coworking space operators prepare for and leverage Coworking Day to raise awareness about coworking, their space, and their brand community. On Coworking Day itself, I share an Open Letter to Coworking, which I’ve done for a number of years.”
As well as cheerleading coworking, and sharing some fascinating coworking takeaways with her community to mark International Coworking Day, Johnson is “sharing my Allwork.Space Q&A with Susan Dorsch about the Roots of Coworking Day, to remind people of where coworking has come from.”
