Potential of Maker Movement on Sustainable Development of Remote Croatian Islands

Abstract

In the last 15 years the maker movement, among other things, is changing our society, the way we learn, teach, work, produce and live. For the last 10 years we have not only been researching the topic of this social movement, but we are also part of it. Based on our experience as being part of the maker community and based on our previous research on sustainable development, this paper examines the potential of makers and maker movement. In fact, above all, the paper examines the potential of new agents (such as makers laboratories, art residencies and coworking hubs), and their prospective impact on our society, especially on the sustainable development of non-urban areas such as remote (Adriatic) islands. The question in front of us is: can these new agents have a changing role for these isolated areas? We offer the answer by introducing the story about Adriatic Greenlab Initiative and Biševo Makers Workshops which was held as part of the mentioned initiative. Biševo Makers Workshop presents a real test in the physical environment – remote Adriatic island Bilevel in Croatia, with the main actors – makers, in collaboration with the members of the local community.