The Bakelit Multi Art Center is a proud member of Co-PED, a Europe-wide collaboration coordinated by Trans Europe Halles (TEH) and focused on urban regeneration.

What is Co-PED?

Co-PED, short for “Community-based cultural and social centers as incubators of Positive Energy Districts,” is a three-year initiative (2025–2027) that rethinks how local communities produce, manage, and share energy. By turning social and cultural centers into active players in the energy transition, Co-PED develops new models for community energy and financial autonomy—crucial in times of energy crisis and climate change.

The project is supported by the Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Partnership, a European collaboration of 67 partners from 28 countries. DUT works to help cities across Europe become more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient by addressing key urban challenges such as energy efficiency, mobility, and the circular economy.

Co-PED falls under the “Positive Energy Districts” (PED) category, alongside forward-looking concepts such as the “15-minute city” and “circular urban economies.” The project explores how cultural and social centers—whether in urban or rural settings—can serve as community hubs where people collectively shape their energy future. It brings together a diverse international consortium of social and cultural centers, NGOs, research institutions, and energy companies. Each partner contributes their own expertise to develop effective and comprehensive solutions.

For more information and a list of participants, visit the Co-PED website.

What do we do?

Within the project, Bakelit is one of eight European “Urban Living Labs,” where community-based energy solutions are tested in practice.

Bakelit is an independent cultural center operating on a former industrial site (the old Hazai Fésűsfonó factory). With its multifunctional spaces (studio, hangar, hostel, bar), it is an important venue for contemporary arts—hosting theatre, dance, music, and visual arts. The project helps Bakelit evolve into not only a cultural but also an ecological hub, setting an example for the rehabilitation of abandoned industrial areas and for tackling energy poverty.

Bakelit is located in an industrial park surrounded by other service providers who, like us, have been affected by rising energy costs. In this context, we see an opportunity not only to improve our own sustainability but also to take on a leading role. Through Co-PED, our goal is to support our daily operations while helping to establish a local energy community that brings together businesses, organizations, and cultural institutions.

Our primary goal is to make Bakelit more sustainable—both ecologically and professionally—by integrating renewable energy solutions. At the same time, we aim to build connections with other organizations that have also faced instability due to energy costs. By the end of the project, we hope to present a working model to local governments, demonstrating how energy communities can provide cost-effective, scalable solutions for service providers, residents, and cultural actors alike.

Our approach applies different strategies for different audiences. We will engage nearby organizations in person through our existing networks. For broader outreach, we will rely on clear and accessible communication of the project’s results. When it comes to influencing decision-makers, we will collaborate with our national consortium partners through direct advocacy and partnerships to amplify our voice.

We will work with organizations in the industrial park that are open to joining the energy community, as well as others in the wider area who may follow our example after seeing the results. Local policymakers are also key stakeholders—we hope to involve them in rethinking energy regulation to support more inclusive and effective community energy models.

We aim to cover most of Bakelit’s energy consumption with solar power. More importantly, we hope the project will lead to a model energy community that inspires others facing similar challenges. If the initiative also contributes to changes in local electricity regulation, the Co-PED project will achieve meaningful and lasting social impact.