“Trade School: where ideas are currency.” —The New York Times
TradeSchool
Trade School is a non-traditional learning environment in which students barter with teachers in exchange for instruction.
We transform storefront spaces into dynamic, community classrooms with instruction ranging from grant writing and Scrabble strategy to web design and mushroom hunting.
In February 2010, the Trade School pilot in the Lower East Side of New York City exceeded expectation. Trade School was attended by over 800 students in 35 days and our website received in excess of 18,000 unique visits.
This school is an experiment in non-traditional education, shared enthusiasm and exchange.
“It is an engaging and appealing model of ways to think and live.” —The Huffington Post
How Trade School Works
Students visit our website, read the numerous course descriptions and make an on-line seat reservation for their class of interest. At the time of reservation, students submit contact information, pledge commitment to attended the class and indicate the goods they will barter for instruction based on a list provided by the teacher of the class. Bartered goods are exchanged with the instructor on the day of school.
A selection of previous classes:
How to Make Butter
Foundations of Ghost Hunting
Portrait Photography
Grant writing
Composting
Making Websites on Wordpress
Swing Dance Lesson
How to Make Irrational Decisions
Some things bartered for class:
Cheese
Running shoes
Help with Twitter and Facebook
Sewing and art supplies
Cooking spices
Music and poetry
Local fruits and vegetables
Clothes
Back issues of National Geographic
Trade School Sponsors
Manufacturer of novel storage solutions used nationwide by builders and contractors. Bucketboss provided Trade School with buckets to use as seats and bucket-pockets for students and teachers to use as storage.
bucketboss.com
A revolving storefront based in the Lower East Side in Manhattan. GrandOpening collaborated with OurGoods in the conception of Trade School, and provided its storefront as a site for Trade School's month-long pilot run.
gopublicprojects.com
French creator of beautiful and functional stationery, recognized by artists and designers around the world. Rhodia provided Trade School with notepads for teachers and students.
rhodiapads.comWhy Sponsors Love Trade School
The Trade School community is comprised equally of men and women—creative 'do it yourself' professionals primarily in their early twenties to mid thirties, living and working in New York City.
In our first month, our website received over 18,000 unique visits from individuals interested in Trade School. In the classroom, our students and teachers learned about Rhodia by taking notes on their donated writing pads, handled furniture made from BucketBoss components and were introduced to GrandOpening's novel storefront concept by participating in the event at the space.
Press
A Trade School Where Ideas are Currency
Interview with Caroline Woolard of OurGoods
Trade School: Experts Offer Knowledge In Exchange For Bartered
Facts and Figures
35
days of classes
804
students
76
classes held
84
Students attended 3+ classes
1143
class sign-ups
18,662
Unique visits to the website
“A brilliant idea whose time is NOW.” —Ellen Gordon Reeves, author of Can I Wear My Nosering to the Interview?
Trade School, Fall 2010
Trade School sponsors receive advertising space on our website and promotional opportunities at our Trade School locations. We work with each sponsor to best suit individual needs and interests.
Trade School will open again in Fall 2010 for three months. We expect over 1,000 students a month who will be able choose from 5 to 10 classes a week and expect to double the 18,000 unique monthly visits to our website.
Please contact Saul Melman for sponsorship opportunities.
“What a wonderful project!” —Lewis Hyde, Author of The Gift
