The DIY, or rather DIT, scene in Reykjavík is booming, and one of its pillars is the Reykjavík Tool Library. On August 18th, the collective space will hold its annual fundraiser-cum-festival, Toolraiser, which will feature six local bands rocking out for drills, donations, and a whole lotta fun.
A bit of a whim
“I started the Tool Library last year on a bit of a whim,” founder Anna Carolina Worthington de Matos says with a laugh. A warm, friendly, and outgoing Brazil transplant, Anna’s love for the scene is infectious. “I basically got very sick and didn’t have anything to do, so I started the Tool Library and when I left the hospital I actually had the money for it, so I had to do it.”
She’s being modest—in reality, the amount of work Anna has put into the DIY space is immeasurable. From her hospital bed, she ran a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign to launch the library, raising almost €9,500.
“The concept is a circular economy,” explains Anna. “That means by sharing things, most people can afford tools without having to pay a lot of money for one or another. What’s the point of buying a 25,000 ISK drill when you only need it for five minutes?”
She smiles, clearly full of pride in what she’s accomplished. The Library has been active for almost a year, withToolraiser taking place on its birthday.
A bit of a party
But the point of Toolraiser goes far beyond helping the Library financially. “The point is to create a community, and what better way than to have a bit of a party?” Anna says with a grin. “So we have a gig and the entrance fee is a tool per person.” Attendees can also give donations, a portion of which will be given to the all-ages music venue R6013.
Currently the Toolraiser lineup features Drungi, Dead Bird Lady, Sinah, MSEA, Nornagal, and Soffín. “It’s really nice to get a lot of support from the bands,” says Anna. “We are in a community and we support each other. if we can support local people, that’s the point of it all.”
The fundraiser will also feature a food share table, where you can bring a dish and share your noms with others. If that’s not enough, they’ll also be screenprinting Toolraiser t-shirts onsite.
A bit of an expanse
The money raised by Toolraiser will aid the Tool Library’s upcoming expansion. “At the moment, we are expanding to a sharing depot, so you’ll be able to borrow tents and extra beds, tables, chairs, GoPros, and more,” explains Anna. The Tool Library also plans on adding a DIY centre, so you’ll be able to borrow tools and have the space to do your own projects.
“We are also going to be offering a lot of workshops,” she adds. “Most of them are upcycling or community driven.” She grins. “Generally speaking, we keep our costs low, as long as we are paying rent, we don’t care much.”
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