Free Webinar Series for Community Venues

The CoLab by SpacetoCo💡

A free educational webinar series designed to help you build new skills, spark fresh ideas, and grow your bookings and impact, while saving time running your venue.

Whether you manage a council facility, a rural hall, or a neighbourhood centre, each session is built around the real challenges of running a community space, with practical takeaways you can apply right away.

CoLab Registration Page Header

Why join the CoLab

As someone that works in or with community venues, you'll know that the opportunities to learn specific skills related to your role are few and far between. We've created this learning series so that you can get ideas and inspiration on a number of topics that we've curated especially for you. Whether it's technology tips to help you save time or sharing ideas for ways to market your venue on a shoestring budget - we've got you covered!
 
This learning series includes a monthly webinar that you can attend live or watch a recording. Each month we will also share a new resource that has even more ideas, examples and other useful content.
 
By registering for a session, you'll get a notification each month of the next session and receive an invite to register. If you can't attend on the day, you'll be able to watch a recording. You can unsubscribe at any time
Free to attend
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100% Free to attend

No cost, no catch. The only thing you're investing is your time, and you'll walk away with practical tips and insights you can apply straight away.

Invest in yourself
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Invest in yourself, every month

New, relevant content lands every month, so you're always adding to what you can bring back to your role and your community.

Made for your industry
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Made for your industry

No generic corporate webinar content here. Every session is shaped around the day-to-day reality of running a community venue.

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Next Session

How to manage a venue with a small team and a shoestring budget

When: Tuesday 28th July 2026
Cost: FREE

Are you trying to manage a vibrant community space but finding yourself caught between tight budgets, shifting priorities, and endless admin?

Join us for a practical webinar designed for council, community, and venue teams ready to streamline their operations, maximise their resources, and build a sustainable strategy for success.

We’ll dive into The Kete Aronui story to explore how venue teams can confidently navigate financial constraints and time pressures while still delivering high-impact community spaces.

You'll learn

  • Simple, actionable budget and funding tips to maximise your venue’s financial sustainability.
  • How to strategise around your priorities and clearly define your venue’s unique points of difference
  • Practical time-management. techniques to reduce friction and keep your team focused on what matters most.
  • How to unlock the power of collaboration, making the absolute most of your relationships with both your internal team and your venue hirers.
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Meet your speaker

Connie Boston

Connie is the Administrator for He Waka Eke Noa Charitable Trust, joining in 2021 to support operations for Kete Aronui and The Ugly Shakespeare Company. She has since been a key driver of the logistics and operations for the Trust's performance space, The Factory Theatre. A passionate arts supporter, Connie thrives on the dynamic nature of her role and loves seeing the positive impact the Trust makes across the Tāmaki-Makaurau arts community.

 

Frequently asked questions

Is CoLab really free to attend? What’s the catch?

Yes, it is 100% free, and there is absolutely no catch. We run these SpacetoCo CoLab sessions because we’re genuinely passionate about supporting the people who keep community venues running—whether you're managing a local council facility, a rural hall, a recreation centre, or a neighbourhood house. We want to give you practical resources that make your life easier, whether that means saving you time, boosting your bookings and revenue, or just offering fresh inspiration and leadership tips for your day-to-day operations.

  • Who it’s for: Our audience is for anyone working hard behind the scenes to grow and manage local community spaces. However, if the topic simply interests you but you may not necessarily work for a community centre, you're still welcome here! 
  • The bottom line: No hidden fees, just great insights. Hit the Register button to save your spot!

I can’t make the live session. Are the webinars recorded?

Yes, every single CoLab session is recorded so you won't miss a thing. As long as you register for the specific session before it kicks off, we will automatically email you the replay link right after it wraps up.

  • Bonus materials: We will also include any templates, links, or handy resources the speaker mentioned during the session.
  • Tip: Even if you know you can't make the live time, make sure to register anyway so the recap email hits your inbox! 💡

Is there a place where I can access previous sessions?

Yes, we have a whole archive waiting for you! You can catch up on all of our past CoLab sessions right here on our CoLab Recordings Page. It’s packed with previous training videos, venue marketing strategies, and operational tips from fellow venue managers.



Can I request specific topics or themes to cover?

Absolutely. We would love that! We want these sessions to solve your actual, real-world challenges, so we build our schedule around what you want to learn. If there is a particular theme, tool, or venue management headache you want us to tackle next, just let us know via our CoLab Suggestion Form

Can I get involved as a speaker?

Yes.We would love to have you! We are always on the lookout for friendly faces who are willing to share their experiences or venue expertise with the rest of the community. You don't need to be a professional public speaker—some of the absolute best learning comes from peer-to-peer stories from people working in roles just like yours.

  • Let's brainstorm: If you have an idea or just want to chat about what you could share, reach out to us at marketing@spacetoco.com. We will happily help you map out your topic!
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Watch previous CoLabs

Access the recordings of all our previous CoLab episodes. Get the knowledge and tips from our experts from a range of topics for all types of community venues.

Event risk management for councils and community venues

How to build a team culture of success

The fundamentals of activating spaces and places

Hacks for creating posters, social media & promoting things in your venue

How to be more sustainable and share resources with the community

How to handle difficult conversations

How placemaking in your community venue can transform communities

How your regular hirers can provide value to your community and venue

How to increase engagement on social media by using videos

How to activate your community venue

How to plan and run events on a budget

Placemaking for community venues

How to make people feel at home and welcome in your venue

Widening youth participation in community venues

How community venues can respond to climate change

Creating intentional community programmes

Why young people need community venues

Maximising community benefit by effectively managing spaces

Zero waste for community venues

How to recruit, retain and take care of volunteers

How to attract, engage and retain committee members at your community venue

How to advocate for your community venue, and help your community to advocate for you

How much to charge for your venue hire

Building strategic relationships for community engagement

How to make the most of your community venue

Learning from fellow community venues

How to seek funding and increase chances of success in your applications for community venues

Creating a social media marketing strategy for community venues

How to utilise Artificial Intelligence for your community venue

Reimagining community learning: How digital games can power up your centre

Creating inclusive and welcoming community venues: The role of diversity, culture and equity

How your community venue can prepare and respond to emergencies

Facilitating community in development and empty commercial spaces

How to bring people together and create a sense of community in your venue

Find all kinds of FREE resources by venue type

Explore our range of videos, articles and helpful guides tailored for your specific type of venue - all free!
Council Facilities
Council
Facilities
Community Centres
Community
Centres
Arts & Rehearsal Facilities
Arts &
Rehearsal Facilities
Sports and Recreation
Sports &
Recreation
Churches & Places of Worship
Churches &
Places of Worship
Schools & Universities
Schools & Universities
Peppercorn Leased Properties
Peppercorn Leased Properties
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Join the hundreds of councils and community centres across the globe that trusts SpacetoCo to grow their venue bookings

From large local governments to grassroots community hubs, SpacetoCo is already powering hundreds of spaces just like yours.

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Ready to Simplify Your Bookings and Grow Your Impact?

Let us show you how SpacetoCo can reduce admin, increase revenue, and create a better experience for your community.

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