Позитивные изменения, Том 3 №1, 2023. Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 1 (2023)

• Started working with the museum heritage – creating replicas of metal products (the Surgut Museum of Local Lore provided the collection to study the material);

• Started working with wax and materials derived from animals;

• Offered workshops on embossing of aluminum bracelets;

• Launched one-hour-long group tours of the forge;

• Presented the “Mobile Forge” and “Mobile Minting” services;

• Increased the number of self-employed people making handicrafts for the project.

DIRECT RESULTS FOR 2022

More than 1,000 new visitors and customers. The share of recurring visitors has also increased.

SOCIAL EFFECTS ACHIEVED IN 2022

• We conduct career guidance activities, students specializing in metalworking of Surgut Polytechnic College are familiar with us;

• We help craftsmen and artisans formalize self-employment and work legally; we accompany and assist them in obtaining support measures, grants and subsidies for business development;

• We are noticing a growing interest in blacksmithing, with an increasing number of visitors from other cities in neighboring regions and federal districts;

• We advise members of the Blacksmiths Guild of Russia on how to conduct their business competently and build stronger relationships with the authorities.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY MODEL

Workshops on blacksmithing have always been our core activity. During the pandemic, we shifted profile to producing medium-sized wrought-iron interior decoration items for suburban houses. Our products are sold on the Asian online marketplace, pinkoi.com, previously worked with etsy.com.

On August 17, 2022, we opened the “FORGE” Creative Industries Agency (autonomous non-profit organization) to be able to receive grant support. In addition, we monitor available measures of state support in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra (subsidies, reimbursements of costs, grants for entrepreneurs).