Whalar Launches First Dedicated Campuses for Creators

Today, leading global creator company Whalar introduces The Lighthouse, a first-of-its-kind physical Campus for Creators and their teams to learn, make, and belong.

The Creator Economy has outgrown the spaces, resources, and tools available to creators. By design, The Lighthouse is the first-of-its-kind, multi-hyphenate space. Giving rise to a new home for creators and teams, each campus will combine learning and career development programmes, state-of-the-art production studios, private offices, open-plan workspaces, and cultural-social events accessible through an application-based membership programme.

Jon Goss, president, The Lighthouse said, “The Lighthouse has been inspired by the best art schools, pioneering production studios, and those work and social spaces that truly foster ideas, collaboration, and community. We have thoughtfully designed a private campus and clubhouse dedicated to content creators and their teams to help them connect, thrive, and develop their careers. Our first two buildings in Venice and Brooklyn are truly a perfect match, bringing story, style, and substance to what can be an isolating profession. Creation deserves a home and The Lighthouse will shine a light on creators and their work.”

Image credit: Pat Vale

As a makerspace, The Lighthouse will offer a complete set of production facilities consisting of video-enabled podcast suites, edit bays, photography and music studios, a test kitchen set, and more.

The campus will host industry leaders, educational institutions, and creator experts to deliver a diverse programme of learning and development courses, workshops, and seminars. Topics will range from creative direction, production, storytelling, AI, e-commerce, finance, investment, HR, and legal. Cultural events will showcase influential figures from the arts, culture, and business domains, while our monthly programming calendar will feature social, networking and community events.

The Lighthouse Venice (originally a 1937 post office) and The Lighthouse Brooklyn (a former 19th-century pencil factory) are both architectural icons. Both campuses will house art installations, a lecture hall, a coffee shop, private offices, open-plan work and meeting areas, an outdoor campus, and dedicated spaces for screenings, talks, dinners, and larger-format events.

The Lighthouse will bring together a diverse group of established and emerging creators and their growing teams. There will be an application-based membership programme reviewed by an appointed Lighthouse Creator Council.

Whalar co-founder Neil Waller said, “Liberating the Creative Voice is intrinsic to our DNA at Whalar, making The Lighthouse much more than just a physical campus; it's a creative oasis where imagination knows no bounds, collaboration thrives, and inspiration flows freely. With our expertise matched with the proficiency of our team — and having the industry’s well-respected thought leaders Colin and Samir co-chair the Creator Council — I’m excited to see how The Lighthouse pushes boundaries within the Creator Economy.”

Creator Economy experts Colin and Samir will co-chair and select The Lighthouse’s Creator Council. Colin and Samir will also take on the roles of Creators-in-Residence, with an office and studio at The Lighthouse Venice.

Image credit: Chris Chu

On being part of The Lighthouse Creator Council, Colin Rosenblum of Colin and Samir said, “The moment we started collaborating and working side-by-side with other creators was the moment our career truly began to take shape. Not only did we learn exponentially faster, but we also felt less alone on the journey towards turning our passion into a career. The Lighthouse will give that opportunity to other creators for years to come. Creatives of varying types will come together and produce work and learnings that they could have never imagined. The space offers an opportunity for in-person education in a way that the creator industry has not seen yet.”

And Samir Chaudry of Colin and Samir added, “We’re excited to work with the Lighthouse team, because of the vision we all share for the industry. People like them who treat their careers with the same respect and sophistication that we do. Collectively, we believe that creators are shaping what the modern entertainment industry will look like, one with fewer gatekeepers, more opportunity, and creative work that reaches the maximum number of people with the biggest impact.”

Led by Jon Goss, The Lighthouse Leadership team boasts an exceptional team of community, hospitality, production and partnership experts:

As president of The Lighthouse, Jon Goss oversees the vision and execution of the brand, design, build, operation, and rollout of The Lighthouse and reports to Whalar co-founder Neil Waller. Prior to joining The Lighthouse, Jon was the chief brand and marketing officer of NeueHouse, a workspace provider for creatives, and Fotografiska, a global photography museum. He has developed a strong reputation in the premium lifestyle, hospitality, membership, and culture sectors, helping brands create successful and comprehensive brand marketing and commercial growth strategies.

Lucy Tate joins as vice president of brand and community, where she will oversee the best-in-class learning and development programming, community events, and partnerships. As former global head of creator engagement at Google/YouTube, Lucy has a wealth of experience in sourcing and building high-value strategic creator partnerships that yield results. In addition, The Lighthouse has hired Steve Nolte as vice president of hospitality and operations. Steve will be responsible for defining the culture, operations and hospitality programme at the campus. With over 15 years of hospitality experience at Soho House, Steve brings a unique mix of operational, sales, training, and financial skills.

The Lighthouse has already inspired industry leaders. Brooke Berry, head of creator development, Snap, said about The Lighthouse, “Walking through The Lighthouse was inspiring, as the potential is infinite! Fostering a creator community is not always easy, and having a playground where creators feel safe to create Snaps, be themselves, foster community, and network is everything. The team at Whalar are super creative individuals and I'm excited to see how such a dynamic space can be utilised and transformed!

Kim Larson, global managing director and head of YouTube Creators added, “We believe that fostering a thriving community is the cornerstone of success for our creators, enabling them to learn, collaborate, and grow together. The launch of The Lighthouse marks a significant step forward in this endeavour, providing a physical and virtual haven where creators can cultivate meaningful connections, elevate their craft, and shape the future of digital storytelling. We look forward to seeing how The Lighthouse can be a catalyst for creativity, inspiration, and community among creators.”

And Sofia Hernandez, global head of business marketing, TikTok said, “Giving creators an intentional connection space equipped with all of the latest tools and technology allows for serendipitous connection, collision, and the fusion of energetic brains filled with change-the-game ideas. There is no limit to what this new creative class can achieve in an environment like The Lighthouse — a veritable playground for modern storytellers.”

The Lighthouse is set to launch in Venice, California, and Brooklyn, New York, in Spring/Summer 2024, with a third location in London to follow in 2025.

For further updates on The Lighthouse, please visit here.