Radical hospitality in action

Bertha Spaces creates places where activists, organisers, storytellers and community can gather, learn, rest and build collective power.

EXPLORE OUR SPACES

LEARN ABOUT OUR APPROACH

Public space is where we gather to learn our politics, challenge unjust systems, and grow our collective power. At Bertha Spaces, we practice Radical Hospitality in all that we do, creating spaces where everyone who enters feels seen, heard, and welcome.

Bertha Spaces are places where access is an intentional practice, reciprocity is a way of working and community is at the heart of everything we do, because this is how we convene to dismantle systems built on politics, profit and power.

Our Vision

To create safe and inclusive spaces where communities and activists work together to build more just cities, countries and our planet.

Our Mission

Bertha Spaces supports activists and communities working toward the Bertha Foundation's vision of a more just world through access to physical spaces and opportunities for collaboration, learning, and ongoing connections.

What We Do

We Provide Spaces

We are a network of physical venues dedicated to advancing social justice. We provide the infrastructure for movements to gather, strategize, and sustain their work.

We Support Your Work

Born from the need for secure, resourced environments for activists, our spaces are designed with both security and inspiration in mind, fostering long-term resilience.

We Work with Radical Hospitality

We operate on a model of radical hospitality, ensuring that access is equitable and that our facilities serve as genuine community assets rather than exclusive hubs.

How We Do What We Do

Community engagement

Community shapes our spaces and programs. In an area marked by inequality, we intentionally open our doors to support young people and expand access. Our guest experiences are designed to connect visitors with the communities we serve in ways that are respectful and non-extractive.

Collaboration

Collaboration is at the heart of Bertha Spaces. We provide groups with dedicated time and spaces to connect, exchange ideas, and work together, encouraging partnerships that strengthen their impact. In a context where grassroots organizations and communities often lack safe and accessible spaces to gather, collaborate, and organize, our retreat offers an environment intentionally designed to nurture these connections.

Reciprocity

Reciprocity is central to life at Bertha House. It's a space for sharing skills, mentoring peers and contributing to the wider community - a role that is just as much for Bertha Spaces guests and tenants as it is ours. This culture of mutual exchange ensures that learning and collaboration are at the heart of the house.

Co-creating

Bertha House is where we gather to learn, share and grow our politics. Connection is central to how the space operates, allowing people to exchange ideas, expand their understanding, reflect on their own political perspectives and cultivate the work of collective change.

Access

Bertha House’s central location makes it easy to access, and our Community Reserve program brings people from the Cape Flats through our doors. By combining place and purpose, we create a space where connection, collaboration and participation can flourish across communities. Bertha House is intentionally designed to reduce barriers to access, offering opportunities for grassroots organizations, activists and local groups to gather, learn and exchange ideas.

What Radical Hospitality Looks Like for Bertha Spaces

At Bertha Spaces we want every person to feel seen and heard. Politics does not happen without connection, and connection cannot happen without spaces that fully welcome people. Public gathering spaces are becoming increasingly rare. Repressive societies know that the first step toward control is to stop people from gathering. So we have intentionally built our spaces to counter this. Bertha Spaces are places where people can gather, connect and hone their political understanding of the world. That's why our hospitality is radical: we create a place you can return to, belong to and fight for.

Radical Hospitality in Action

Community reserve

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The Community Reserve makes Bertha House more accessible to activist and community groups that might not otherwise be able to use the space. Rooted in our commitment to access and inclusion, it helps create opportunities for communities to gather, organise, learn, and connect.

Pricing model

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At Bertha Spaces, we believe access to space shouldn't depend on your budget. That's why we use a sliding-scale pricing model. If your organisation has the means to pay more, your contribution helps make our spaces more accessible to activist and community groups with fewer resources. It's one way we put solidarity into practice and ensure our spaces remain welcoming to everyone.

Design

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Bertha Spaces are designed to bring people together, and this is where the magic happens. Every aspect of the spaces is intentionally built and curated to support movements and ideas that drive change. By providing a setting where people can come together, reflect and plan, the retreat becomes more than a place, it becomes a space for imagining and growing the magic of coming together.

Our Member Spaces

To grow our global network, we have partnered with spaces who share a commitment to the advancement of social justice and human rights for all, radical hospitality and inclusivity, environmentally sustainable practices and fair labor practices.

Philippi Village, Philippi, South Africa

Philippi Village is a vibrant community and entrepreneurial hub.

They co-create and connect local communities to services and opportunities ranging from education and skills development to legal advice and social services to sports, art and culture activities. Philippi Village is a business catalyst, providing space for small to medium sized entrepreneurs, businesses, governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Find out more about Philippi Village here.

Postane, Istanbul, Turkey

An Urban Hub for Social Change in the Heart of Istanbul

Postane is a social enterprise dedicated to fostering social innovation and collaboration for the well-being of people and the planet. Located in a former British Post Office building constructed in 1859, Postane was repurposed in 2021 as a multi-functional urban hub. It supports individuals and organizations committed to social impact and ecological regeneration.

As a space of hope, Postane strives to embody the change we wish to see in the world, through welcoming and inspiring spaces, holistic social impact services, inclusive programs, and an ethical, sustainable operational model.

Find out more about Postane here.

Purpose Collective

Bertha Spaces is part of Purpose Collective — a network of hospitality spaces including hotels, retreats, event venues, coworking spaces, and community hubs in South Africa. We are united by our progressive values and our commitment to creating meaningful, joyful experiences for our staff and guests, while ensuring that our practices have a positive impact on the environment and benefit our communities.

Purpose Collective centers the people who do the labor to make our spaces successful and the communities in which we're embedded. We promote regeneration of the environment, use renewable resources wherever possible, and emphasize practices that promote farming and food justice. Our approach to business growth doesn't sacrifice our commitment to people and the planet.

Visit Purpose Collective