FAQ (Frequently asked questions)

Please have a look through these questions and answers before getting in touch!

How can I get in touch with you?

You can get in touch with us over email at: info[@]varia.zone. Your email will be shared internally and discussed among the members.

For questions for which a faster response, or where more eyes are required, you can also reach out to us on Zulip, a software we use for communication. To make an account, follow this link . You don’t need to install anything and can use a regular web browser for this chat. Currently the thread is being used for asking questions, announcing other events, getting in contact with other people who come to Varia, organising the use of printers, and so on. It is accessible not only to Varia members, but also to those who have created an account by following the link above.

Can I use the Varia space for my event?

The short answer is “Yes”! Many events happen at Varia that are organised by non-members.

If you are interested in organising an event to be hosted at Varia, please send an email to info@varia.zone, stating what the proposed event is, when you would like it to happen, which facilities are needed, and what your budget is for renting the space and facilitation of your event. Depending on the the thematic fit, the capacities of Varia members and the space we can discuss and try to make it happen.

We may take some time to respond to you, as we are many people. Best to get in touch some time in advance.

What is the fee for using the space?

For those with institutional support, we ask a fee of €320 per day (excl VAT). The space rental fee goes into Varia’s common fund.

We also ask for compensation of the time of a Varia member who will help to facilitate your event, at the Varia hourly rate of a minimum of €40 per hour (excl VAT), plus a 15% solidarity tariff on top of the hourly rate. The 15% solidarity tariff goes towards Varia’s common fund.

For those without institutional support, we are happy to negotiate based on the particular situation of the request and urgency of the event. Please feel free to let us know your situation when you email us at info@varia.zone.

Is the space wheelchair accessible?

Entry to the space is wheelchair accessible from the Wolphaertstraat side of Varia, where there is a small ramp installed.

Please read our accessibility guide for more information.

Can I use the tools and machines?

At Varia we have several tools and devices to help you repair, produce and publish things. Devices require frequent repair and maintenance and are not always available.

HP Black and White LaserJet 9050dn
Hotglue Binder FKS Printbinder KB2000
Folding Machine and stack cutter
Nagel Rinak Stapler
Several soldering irons, including hot air
Multimeter
Circuit inspection microscope
An analog oscilloscope
Bench power supply
An assortment of tools such as wirestrippers, cutters, and screwdrivers

We are still thinking through how to share these resources. If you have a printing or binding idea please get in contact through Zulip.

Can I borrow Varia’s chairs/mixer/speakers etc?

Maybe. Please get in contact with us via Zulip to ask. We try to lend out things when we can, we love it when stuff is returned in a timely manner and in the state that you found it.

Do you offer internships?

Varia does not currently have capacity to offer internships.

Do you offer residencies?

Varia does not currently offer formal residencies. If you have a specific idea for something you’d like to develop through Varia, please get in touch by sending an email to info@varia.zone.

I’m in town for the week and would like to drop by, can someone meet me at Varia?

If you’re planning to visit, feel free to get in touch on Zulip to let us know when you would like to come by, and we can take it from there. We are many people with many chaotic schedules, so it may take us a minute to get back to you.

I want to interview Varia for my research, can this happen?

We receive quite a lot of requests like this. We are not comfortable to be a subject of study, and prefer to do things in collaboration and conversation. It is helpful to know specific motivations for requests to interview Varia, and the political stance of your research.

If you can physically get to Varia, we’d love to get to know you first with an in person visit, at an event. If you are geographically distant, or if in person is not available to you, then we’d love to hear about your personal desires and how we can learn together.

I need a letter of support in order to apply for funding, can you help me?

We regularly write letters of support for speculative projects, and have a template that we can use for this. The decision making process for this is collective, we try to support projects that align with our political values and shared research. With this in mind, not all requests can be granted.

I need a letter of support for an artist visa, can you help me?

Get in touch with us and we can see what we can do.

How can I follow you?

Varia has a fediverse account, which you can find here. You can search for us as @varia@social.varia.zone. If you are curious to learn more about the Fediverse, we’ve put together this zine.

We also have a newsletter, which you are welcome to subscribe to here. We send an email per month announcing events and news from the space. If you wish to subscribe to the newsletter, you can follow the steps below:

Visit this link.
Under the “Subscription / Unsubscription” heading, fill in your email address and optionally, your name and then click the “subscribe” button.
You will be sent an email to the address you filled in during the previous step (this can take some time and please check your spam inbox)
You can confirm your subscription by responding to this email (an empty message will suffice).
Enjoy the Varia newsletter!

Another way to follow Varia is by subscribing to our RSS feed.

Who are the Varia members? How can I become a member?

The current and former Varia members are listed in the About section of this website. At the moment we are not accepting any new members.

I forgot something in Varia, how can I get it back?

Thank you for your donation to our collective infrastructure! You are very welcome to come and get it back, do it as soon as possible because it may disappear in the black hole of our space. Get in touch on Zulip to see when someone is next in the space.

I got in touch with you and I didn’t hear back, what’s up?

Varia is a self-organised, collective infrastructure running on the fluctuating time and energies of its members. Because of this, we may respond irregularly to messages. Our many headed body is grateful for your patience in correspondence with us.

A lack of reply doesn’t mean that we’re not interested. Feel free to write a reminder.

How can I support Varia?

If you have the financial means we welcome donations to Varia via Open Collective. Your donations will go to maintaining the space and digtal infrastructure and will keep Varia existing and thriving. You can find out more about donations here.