SWOT-Analysis of Halle 14 in the Cotton Spinning ... - Central Europe

SWOT-Matrix
Strengths Weaknesses
Cultural significance/milieu/scene
- Sole not-for-profit institution on the site of the Leipzig
Cotton Spinning Mill (beacon of non-profit activities)
- Successful ‘Kreative Spinner’ project – good example of
cultural education/youth work
- Apart from venue for contemporary art also important place
for the study of art and discussion of art policy (e.g. in the
form of symposia)
- Place of information and education in contemporary art
thanks to library (36,000 books) and visitors’ centre
- Synergies in external perception thanks to proximity to the
Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill
- Lively venue thanks to temporary uses/partnerships such
as Universal Cube and Columbus Art Foundation
- Committed management and staff
- Heterogeneous local mix/artists’ milieu provides good
possibilities for exchange between Halle 14 and other
actors within the Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill
- Possibility of large collections/exhibitions
Urban space & infrastructure
- Good condition of building
- Large floor division and flexible room sizes
Legal & financial conditions
- Helpful framework thanks to private owner of the Leipzig
Cotton Spinning Mill (regarding terms of use of Halle 14
etc) enabling experimental approach, the testing of
concepts, and a certain openness of the development
process
- Wide range of use due to non-commercial orientation
- Advantageous and pragmatic, phased development and
usage concept
- Non-profit status essential to obtain financial support
Opportunities Threats
Cultural significance/milieu/scene
- Encouraging and establishing grant programme will raise
international profile
- Establishment of studios as important future use and basis
of financing (sponsoring)
- Networking of the library with other well-known library
networks (promising, well definable possibility for recruiting
partners and sponsors)
- Expandable youth work – contacts and exchange of
‘Kreative Spinner’ project with similar projects in other
cities (Munich, Berlin)
- Spacious exhibition areas on 3rd floor open up new
possibilities in cooperation with private/public collectors
(e.g. display of large-format installations)
- Artistic and spatial possibility for large-scale not-for-profit
events/symposia
- Conceptual opening for other artistic and cultural directions
(craft industry etc)
- Set-up of co-working spaces
- Strengthened networking (local, regional, international)
- Even more possible ties with West Leipzig with opening for
external projects (more visitors)
Urban space & infrastructure
- Urban development measures in surroundings of the
Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill site (in area of Karl-Heine-
Strasse, refurbishment and conversion of Plagwitz railway
station and track area)
- Energy concept and use of regenerative energy
- Better networking in cooperation with the district and
surrounding creative scene (e.g. IG West, Karl-Heine-
Strasse)
- Expandable cooperation with public/municipal bodies
regarding joint marketing
- Mobility concept (e.g. ‘Cultural Tram’ as advertising
medium, cooperation with LVB public transport operator),
car-sharing
Legal & financial conditions
- Implementation of long-term public-private partnerships
Cultural significance/milieu/scene
- Non-uniform artistic profile of Halle 14 in external impact
- Partly restrictive alignment of artistic profile owing to nonprofit
obligation and own high standards
- Low presence of artistic management (lack of dual
leadership; alongside administrative/commercial
management)
- International perception and networking need
improvement; currently mostly via Leipzig Cotton Spinning
Mill management
- Weak communication and momentum between
commercial actors of the Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill and
Halle 14 (current focus of cooperation: preparation of
Spinning Mill open days)
- Own external presentation of Halle 14 still weak, often
subsumed under the Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill label
Urban space & infrastructure
- Public transport links need improvement, improved
footpaths and signposting of Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill
Legal & financial conditions
- Non-uniform, vague public differentiation/perception
between building Halle 14, registered association HALLE
14 e.V. and the Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill
- Successive reduction of funding from Federkiel
Foundation
Cultural significance/milieu/scene
- Independent establishment of Halle 14 necessary as a
not-for-profit, independent venue (especially vis-à-vis the
Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill)
- Currently large dependency on Leipzig Cotton Spinning
Mill with respect to the development of intended
international dimension
- Uncertain future use and co-financing of gallery space
(especially on 3rd floor) by private collectors/partners
- Stipulations by Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill site
management (boundaries during events etc)
Urban space & infrastructure
- Size of building leads to difficulties in ensuring full use
- Island location of the Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill site
means that Halle 14 is also isolated from the city
Legal & financial conditions
- External co-financing of 3rd construction phase still
uncertain
- Long-term/continuous financing and receipt of financial
assistance uncertain (including for day-to-day business
and fixed costs such as staff, running costs, etc)
- Unsettled financing questions for execution of grant
programme
- Low staffing level
- Uncertain letting of future studios
- Limited usage possibilities for Halle 14 owing to non-profit
operation and non-commercial orientation
- Challenge of simultaneously coping with building work (to
be completed by 2015) and content profiling
- Continuation of non-profit use after lease expires in 2024
not secured
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