Long before ROTFL and TTYL, there was NIMBY: “Not In My Back Yard!” The acronym doesn’t always stand for a vow to fight local zoning ordinances; it’s also the name of a do-it-yourself, industrial art space in Oakland, California, that provides artists with a place to make what would be impossible to create elsewhere. One of our Open Arts Network partners, NIMBY enables projects with a high wow-factor, such as Steam Punk Tree House and Lifesize Mouse Trap (as in the board game), to be realized. Business manager Rachael Norman told me more about this hub of innovation…

Would you briefly describe NIMBY and its mission?

NIMBY is a large (64,000-square-foot) DIY space in East Oakland that serves the Bay Area’s industrial art community. Metal workers, jewelers, dreamers, musicians, engineers, plumbers, electricians, computer programmers, and tinkerers creating projects large and small can all be found working at NIMBY. Steel shipping containers are the building blocks of the NIMBY shop space, and are centered around shared common work areas. At NIMBY you can create anything from the smallest electronic device to some of the largest sculptures seen in the world.

When and how did NIMBY get started?

NIMBY began in a 28,000-square-foot warehouse in West Oakland. Michael Snook founded NIMBY, with no initial investment, in April of 2004. Steel shipping containers were purchased and brought to the space one at a time as funds allowed. Snook intended to set up a functional facility in which to work on projects, and has formed an organization that supports thousands of artists each year.

How far do artists working at NIMBY come from?

Each year, we support thousands of artists and craftspeople from far and wide who want to build a great variety of projects. Most NIMBY artists reside in the San Francisco Bay Area, but artists from as far away as New York, Europe and Australia use NIMBY to create large-scale works that will be shown in the western United States. Large-scale works built here can been found at Burning Man, Maker Faire, Coachella, and exhibitions and museums around the world.

What programs and services do you provide for artists?

NIMBY not only offers workspace to create, but supports its artists with resources, assistance in sourcing re-purposed material, storage of art pieces, logistical and technical guidance, and networking. This supportive culture, shared by all members of the NIMBY community, is at the root of the amazing art that emerges from its doors. As we have grown, programs have been developed to provide discounted trucking rates for artists and assistance in seeking grant funding for projects, as well as to coordinate paid opportunities for artists to show their artwork.

So, hosting and supporting large-scale projects, performances and artworks -– things that other spaces might not have room for — is really NIMBY’s specialty…

NIMBY is best known for supporting large-scale projects such as Colossus, the Steampunk Tree House, and Lifesize Mouse Trap. When Snook founded NIMBY he found that there was a lack of facilities that had both the space and heavy equipment needed to support such projects. While many artists work at home or in smaller shops, the space and resources needed to create large-scale works of art can quickly become overwhelming to an individual. When many artists share a much larger space, the costs can be kept much lower.

It takes an incredible amount of effort and dedication to manage a space like NIMBY. Volunteers add much to the effort of growing and sustaining us. It is no small task to make a facility like this safe, affordable, function and legal.

Do you sponsor/host events both on-site and off-site?

From time to time NIMBY does host events. Historically, these events have ranged in size from large gatherings to small performances and exhibitions. Over the years there have been robot operas, project fundraisers, and most recently, DO IT FOR HAITI, a monumental benefit and clothing drive.

As NIMBY has grown, great efforts have been made to work with the City of Oakland to be able to host a variety of events at our space. Unfortunately, the expense and time involved in this have made small events, exhibitions, and performances impossible to host in our new location at this time.

What is one fact about your organization that you wish was more widely known?

NIMBY has always been supported entirely by our community. Thousands of supporters and volunteers are the only reason NIMBY continues to thrive. We are an entirely self-supporting organization, and this is no small feat.

Have you seen an increase in demand for any of your services in particular during this recession?

During these tough economic times we have been seeing local city governments looking to increase revenue by ensuring that all businesses in their jurisdiction are fully code compliant. This trend has raised operating costs to such a level that individual artists cannot come in to compliance, a situation that is often compounded by the fact that artists frequently work in older buildings that have fallen into disrepair. Because NIMBY has gone through the process of being compliant with fire and building department regulations, we have seen an increase in artists interested in working in our space.

When and how do you know that you are succeeding in your mission?

When NIMBY is bustling with activity and brimming over with projects, new ideas and creativity. It is inspiring to be a part of workdays during which hundreds of people are working together and making the impossible possible before our eyes.

How people can get involved with NIMBY?

To get involved, email volunteer@nimbyspace.org.

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If you are an arts organization based in the United States with 50 or more members, or if you have a defined constituency of 50+ artists who you support, you may be eligible to participate in Fractured Atlas’s Open Arts Network. Contact Adam Natale for more information: adam.natale@fracturedatlas.org, 212-277-8023.