ELECTRON | breda

What ELECTRON | breda does

Electron Breda is a non-profit cultural incubator (broedplaats) operated by Stichting Beeldmakers Breda since 2017 in Breda, Netherlands. The organization provides affordable workspace, exhibition venues, and event programming for emerging and professional artists, operating from two physical locations in Breda's Creative District: the main site at Speelhuislaan 171 housing ateliers, workshops, and the Grafische Werkplaats RAAF printmaking space, and the MotMot Gallery at Belcrumweg 19 which functions as the cultural living room for drag shows, exhibitions, and community events. Programming is delivered through a portfolio of branded initiatives including the Safe Space Project (cohorts of 12 young artists aged 18-27), Mash-up performance nights showcasing St. Joost art students, House of Salvia drag shows, Kitty Purr poetry meetups, Gallery Sessions intimate concerts, and TheaterSport improvisation events, supplemented by paid workshops (sketch sessions, bookbinding) and physical publications such as the Artis Forma reprint and Younes Hider poetry collection.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining recurring rental income from ateliers and event spaces, transaction-based ticket sales for events (€12.50-€18.50 for drag shows, free-to-pay-what-you-can for Mash-up nights), and one-time fees for workshops and publications. The 6-person core team is led by Director Lisette Spee and Business Leader Frank Bouwkamp, with a leadership structure that reflects a community-led, events-driven go-to-market rather than a sales motion. The organization faces a material existential challenge: the June 2024 municipal rejection of its development plan with Big Picture and the subsequent demolition of MotMot gallery and Makershal following Amvest's Creative District redevelopment project, which has eliminated public access to key venues and undermined the organization's programming economics.

Name

ELECTRON | breda

Legal name

Stichting Beeldmakers Breda

Website

https://electronbreda.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Electron Breda is a non-profit cultural incubator in Breda, Netherlands, operating ateliers, MotMot Gallery, and event programming for emerging artists, art students, and local community through a 6-person team since 2017.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Breda

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Venue and Space Rental: Rental income from ateliers (studios), workrooms, and event spaces including MotMot gallery, Makershal, Kopse Kant, and photo studio
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from paid events including drag shows, performances, workshops, and film screenings through online ticketing platform
3. Workshop Fees: Paid workshops and educational programming including sketch sessions (€23.80 normal, €18 student), bookbinding workshops (€45 normal, €25 reduced), and specialized creative sessions
4. Book and Publication Sales: Sales of published works created through the incubator including Artis Forma (€35) and Younes Hider poetry collection

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Electron | breda operates a cultural broedplaats (creative incubator) providing affordable artist studios, exhibition and event spaces, and a recurring calendar of cultural programming including drag shows, performance nights, gallery sessions, poetry meetups, and artist residencies. Revenue is generated through venue and atelier rentals, ticketed events and workshops, and book sales, all delivered from multiple physical locations in Breda's Creative District under the governance of Stichting Beeldmakers Breda.

Product overview

ELECTRON | breda is a cultural broedplaats (creative incubator) operating as a unified venue-plus-program offering rather than a traditional software product. The core venue consists of MotMot Gallery (cultural living room), exhibition spaces (Kopse Kant, Blue Wall), event spaces (Makershal, Fotostudio), and artist studios available for rent. The programming side includes public events series: drag shows via House of Salvia, Gallery Sessions (intimate concerts), Mash-up performance nights (student art showcases), TheaterSport improvisations, and poetry workshops via Kitty Purr. Electron also publishes physical products including the Artis Forma 3D paper craft book reprint and Younes Hider's poetry collection. The Safe Space Project provides structured support for young artists aged 18-27. All offerings are interconnected through the shared mission of supporting artists, makers, and cultural community development in Breda's Creative District.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MotMot Gallery: Cultural living room gallery within the Electron broedplaats hosting drag shows, gallery sessions, exhibitions and community events
• Grafische Werkplaats RAAF
• House of Salvia
• Mash-Up
• Safe Space Project
• Kitty Purr

Products and services

• MotMot Gallery The cultural living room of Electron — a wheelchair-accessible exhibition and performance space at Belcrumweg 19, Breda, hosting drag shows, gallery sessions, mash-up performances, and community events. Acts as the primary public-facing venue for cultural programming.
• Kopse Kant Exhibition Space A 160 m² open exhibition space with natural light, high ceilings, and white walls, available for hire for exhibitions and performances. Includes a small bar, adjacent rooms, projector, sound system, lighting, mobile walls, and pedestals.
• Event Spaces (Makershal, Fotostudio, Blue Wall, Kopse Kantine) A portfolio of creative event and meeting spaces — a makers hall (Makershal), photo studio, exhibition walls, and cantine area — available for hire for events, meetings, and creative projects.
• Ateliers (Artist Studios) Workshop and studio spaces for rent by professional artists, designers, and makers. Includes individual ateliers and the Grafische Werkplaats RAAF printmaking workshop.
• Artis Forma (Book) Reprint of Gerrit de Morée's 1968 3D folding book containing 10 paper cutting patterns for creating movable animal figures, inspired by Japanese origami. Digitized and republished by Electron; sold as a single copy for €35 or two copies for €50.
• Younes Hider Poetry Collection (Book) Poetry book 'Dat ik de mensen met woorden kan raken' written by Younes Hider using eye-control assistive technology, published by Electron and covered by RTL Nieuws, Bn De Stem, and Linda Meiden.
• Safe Space Project A program offering young makers (18-27) the opportunity to experiment freely with their work and creativity for approximately 12 weeks. Provides workspace, budget, and mentorship without commercial pressures or artistic demands; supports 12 young artists per cohort.
• Kitty Purr (Poetry Meetup Series) Monthly meetup series combining poetry with visual art, inspired by the vintage 'Poesie album' tradition. Includes bookbinding workshops and social poetry activities held in a safe, inclusive space.
• House of Salvia Drag Shows Accessible drag performances hosted by House of Salvia, creating safe spaces for drag artists and audiences, featuring performers with diverse talents and backgrounds. Pricing tiers: Princess (€12.50-€13.50), Queen (€15-€16), Mother of the Queen (€17.50-€18.50).
• Gallery Sessions Intimate music experiences featuring two artists with different styles performing short sets, accompanied by conversations about their musical influences and challenges. Past performers include Penny, Jaro, Eliën, and Endring.
• Mash-up Performance Nights Monthly art performance evenings where art school students from St. Joost School of Art & Design receive a working budget to create experimental performances or installations for public audiences. Free entry for community audiences.
• TheaterSport Improvisationshow Improvisation theater events presented in collaboration with Allure Breda, where audiences provide suggestions and performers create spontaneous scenes and games on stage.
• Studio Tours Guided tours of Electron's facilities introducing visitors to the artist's mindset and creative spaces. Available for groups of 8+ people, lasting 30-60 minutes.
• Creative Workshops (Sketch Sessions, Bookbinding, Visual Poetry) Paid creative workshops including sketch sessions (€23.80 normal, €18 student), bookbinding workshops (€45 normal, €25 reduced), and specialized visual poetry sessions held at Electron venues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 young artists supported per cohort in Safe Space Project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Big PicturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Maatschappelijk vastgoedontwikkelaar (social real estate developer) collaborating with Electron and Vakwerk Architecten on development plan to secure future of broedplaats in Creative District. Partnership aimed at sustainable exploitation model combining 40 social housing units with creative incubator spaces.
• Vakwerk ArchitectencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm providing design expertise for development plan mass study and spatial optimization of future broedplaats configuration.
• St. Joost School of Art & DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution providing student pipeline for Mash-up program, Safe Space Project, and ongoing collaboration for exhibitions and performances. Students receive workspace budget and stage time through partnership.
• Creatieve Hubs NederlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network organization that facilitates knowledge exchange about creative hubs and strengthens connections between government, entrepreneurs, and education.
• Havenkwartier Partners (STEK, Poppodium Phoenix, Pier15)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal creative district collaboration for joint events like Kingsday, protest events, and ongoing cultural programming in the neighborhood.
• CLICKNLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge and innovation network for creative industry supporting research project on collective innovation with Avans Hogeschool and European partners.
• Avans Hogeschool (CARADT, BWNO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with lectorate programs including Sebastian Olma (Cultural & Creative Industries) and Kaj Morel (Unthinkable Marketing) for collective innovation research.
• Familie MakenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConcept by Stichting Het Eetschap facilitating community meals and encounters between diverse groups, collaborating on events like 'Uit je Dak!' for World Homeless Day.
• Kunstloc BrabantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrabant cultural support organization providing funding and resources for Kennisdag Creatieve Hubs and ongoing incubator operations.
• BLAStminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization creating free space for dialogue with the city, organizing BLAStcafé events on topics like housing cooperatives at MotMot gallery.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NDSM-werf: NDSM-werf in Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest creative incubator (broedplaats), combining artist studios, ateliers, and event programming in former shipyard buildings. Directly comparable to Electron's model of mixed workspace-plus-venue cultural hub, though at significantly larger scale.
• WORM Rotterdam: WORM is a Rotterdam-based multidisciplinary cultural hub with studios, event spaces, and diverse programming spanning music, film, performance, and visual arts. Comparable to Electron's multi-vertical programming approach combined with artist workspace infrastructure.
• De Waag Amsterdam: De Waag is a historic Amsterdam creative workspace and maker space combining ateliers, workshops, and cultural programming with a focus on experimentation. Similar to Electron's incubator-plus-events model, with stronger emphasis on technology and craft.
• Korzo Theater: Korzo in The Hague operates as a performing arts production house and cultural venue hosting dance, music, and theater with associated maker spaces. Comparable to Electron's programming diversity and venue-plus-artist-development model.

Broad incumbents

• Paradiso Amsterdam: Paradiso is a major Amsterdam music and cultural venue hosting concerts, performances, and events across many genres. While much larger and more commercially oriented, it shares Electron's event-driven programming model including drag and indie music performances.
• Melkweg Amsterdam: Melkweg is a large Amsterdam cultural venue hosting music, film, theater, and exhibitions with strong cultural programming. Overlaps with Electron's community-oriented, multi-disciplinary event approach, though at significantly larger institutional scale.

Regional players

• Effenaar Eindhoven: Effenaar is a Brabant-region music and cultural venue in Eindhoven supporting emerging artists through programming and talent development. Operates in same Dutch southern region as Electron with comparable emerging-artist focus, though primarily music-focused.
• 013 Poppodium Tilburg: 013 is a major Brabant-region music venue in Tilburg, near Breda, hosting concerts and cultural events. Comparable regional cultural venue serving similar southern Netherlands audiences with broader commercial programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ELECTRON | breda