The Old Symposium
the story + the people
Our Story
Our lives have revolved around local projects, humanities education, design, development, and community life. The Old Symposium began as the dream of a bookstore and community institute that could bridge gaps between the life of everyday community members and the best writing, learning and research happening across the world. We want everyone to feel in their bones how big and wide and extraordinary the world is and that each person is a part of the conversation that makes it so. Community institute, to us, means a place where learning is a part of one's whole life. The Old Symposium, is, in a sense, a commoner's university. Where anyone from any walk of life can come, find something to read or join a community of learning that is accessible, available and built for the life long learner rather than the university student.
The project started taking shape when we formed a team of three and started planning a collaborative environment of books, education, art and design. We found a perfect space at 1311 SW Adams with great owners and great neighbors and set to work. The Old Symposium is a labor of love. We've done as much of the work as we could ourselves including painting, shelf-building, furniture acquisition, and book selection. Everything you see when you enter our space is something that we have touched, arranged, refined, or built as a team with support from our broader beautiful network of family and friends. We've received generous donations of time, books, and furniture from loved ones and community members. Our doors would not be open without these acts of generosity.
