How do maker spaces benefit their communities?

June 15, 2012 5:45 AM

I’m trying to get a non-profit “maker space” started. Our goal is to provide affordable access to a large workspace with nearly every kind of tool you can imagine (machining, woodworking, welding & metal fab, 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing machines, electronic test gear, etc). We’re also going to provide training and an opportunity to meet and maybe collaborate with other artists, craftsmen, inventors and “makers.” I’m trying to develop a strong argument about how we can benefit our community and local businesses. So I’m looking for both input and help finding specific examples of how other maker spaces have done that.

BTW, the terms are maker and hacker space are often used as if they mean the same thing. But they often have different goals. Artisan’s Asylum, Tech Shop and Maker Works are examples of the kind of maker spaces we want to emulate.

posted by 14580 to Grab Bag (13 answers total)

Talk to this guy. I talked to him for fifteen minutes about our space and he was very helpful.

You would certainly want to take the "new businesses are born here" and the "this is a creative after-school activity" routes.
posted by michaelh at 5:57 AM on June 15, 2012

Best answer: I know the guy who run's Artisan's Asylum. MeMail me if you'd like me to put you in touch with him.
posted by olinerd at 5:59 AM on June 15, 2012

Mod note: Link deleted. You can include the link in your profile, and people who are interested can check it out.
posted by taz (staff) at 6:16 AM on June 15, 2012

Check out the Baltimore Community Toolbank. It isn't exactly what you're looking for, but at least in my mind its a similar idea.
posted by postel's law at 6:41 AM on June 15, 2012

Also, running your maker space as a toolbank as well would expand the pool of users.
posted by postel's law at 6:43 AM on June 15, 2012

Best answer: I teach classes at a similar maker space at a local university. We have the advantage that our classes for students are subsidized by the university, making them more affordable. This does cause some strife between us and other area organizations/businesses that provide craft instruction, since their courses are more expensive. (However, they are usually filled by older residents who are more than willing to pay the premium and avoid the students.) So if you have a large university in your area with a similar program, that's something to consider when setting up the space and setting prices. (Surplus equipment sales at large universities are also probably good places to scrounge up used equipment at extremely reasonable prices.) In addition to classes, my space charges a daily "studio fee" for people to come in and use the equipment, and I imagine you would do something similar.

Our space focuses more on "traditional" hand crafts - pottery, fiber arts, screenprinting, photography, sewing, glassblowing/bead making, woodworking, some metalwork. There are also occasional one-time workshops for other more random ventures. I don't have a lot of experience with other, more electronics or tech-related hand crafts, but I think a lot of the same things would apply and you would be able to find people with overlapping interests and also people in the community who would buy the finished products.

1. Benefits to the community:
-Employment for local artists and creative types. Most of the people that teach at my space are also employed in some sort of "regular" job, but a few of them have begun profitable side projects, a few have gotten book deals based on their craftiness, and a few are employed full time as artists/craftsmen.
-Regular craft sales and an influx of handmade goods from local artists. I know a lot of people like to buy handmade items for gifts, and older people in particular may not be familiar with Etsy and other online craft venues. Having a "local Etsy" allows people to see items before they buy, and also get in touch with the artist/maker about custom items.
-Provides a venue for other organizations (Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, school groups, etc.) to have a space for large-scale projects.
-Having a lot of skilled craftsmen/women that are able to assist in other volunteer efforts such as community building/revitalization projects. Our space also has regular work days for volunteer efforts such as Little Dresses for Africa.

2. Benefits to local businesses:
-Even though my space competes somewhat with local businesses that also offer classes, I generally refer my students to those local businesses to purchase supplies for said classes, and I try to purchase my instructor supplies from those stores before ordering online.
-Our "downtown revitalization organization" hosts several art-related events annually, and also hosts artists at the weekly farmer's market. This benefits downtown businesses since it attracts more shoppers than usual to the area. A few downtown shops regularly feature items from local craftspeople.
-Some job training for local residents. A lot of the equipment you mention above is very high-tech, and I imagine those skills would be in demand at manufacturing businesses. Perhaps you could have a collaboration with a community college where you offer a "really basic introduction class" to something that they teach more in depth at the community college. At the end of the class, you can offer referrals to specific community college courses where students can learn more (either for job training or their own personal development).
posted by sararah at 6:55 AM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I would contact the folks at ADX in Portland, Oregon. They've done exactly what you're talking about and would have some really good insight to answering several of your questions, and provide you with concrete examples of programs they've put in place.
posted by furnace.heart at 7:10 AM on June 15, 2012

Best answer: Sector 67 in Madison, WI -- article here.
posted by Madamina at 7:23 AM on June 15, 2012

Best answer: I think you should reach out to the Columbus Idea Foundry. I think they're right up your alley.
posted by BZArcher at 8:30 AM on June 15, 2012

Best answer: You probably want to re-ask on the hackerspaces-discuss list, which is pretty much precisely the venue for all this stuff. There's surely some overlap between there and here (hi!) but it'll definitely reach a more specific audience there.

Also, if you're making a pitch to folks who aren't "true believers" yet, it might help to have third-party backup for your position: Media coverage. Finding articles in mainstream press is probably a worthwhile parallel question.

I don't know if any other spaces keep a list of their media hits, but when i3 Detroit gets press, we just jot it down in our wiki. Helps later when someone needs a specific reference.

Good luck! If I have a few free hours this weekend, I'll braindump about your actual question, which I probably shouldn't answer in detail while at work because I'm supposed to be working. ;)
posted by Myself at 10:14 AM on June 15, 2012

Seconding the reference to hackerspaces-discuss. Lots of people hanging out there who can tell you just about anything you want to know about this field.

I helped start a makerspace here in Seattle. It is comfortably self-supporting and has grown rapidly in its 15 months of existence; we've already expanded into the adjoining unit, doubling our floor space. We have dozens of members working on all kinds of projects: beer brewing, costume making, painting lessons, electronic gadgets, metalwork; one guy is building his own CNC router from scratch... It's been a deeply satisfying experience.

I feel like I ought to be able to help you with this project, but I am having trouble making sense of your question. It is framed in a way that suggests a conception of makerspaces I really don't understand. Why do you need such an argument? Who is it that needs to be persuaded? A makerspace benefits the community it serves in ways that seem obvious, but I don't understand why the opinions of local businesses should matter. Are you trying to convince people to join your makerspace, or to give you money, or are you going through some weird zoning process, or what?

We started our makerspace because there were a bunch of us who wanted something like it to exist. By pooling our resources we have more space and better tools than any of us could afford individually. We also have a social hub for creative work, which makes it easier to inspire each other and share knowledge. The makerspace benefits the community by making it easier for us, who are members of that community, to pursue our creative outlets, and by allowing us to tackle more and larger projects than we'd have been able to attempt with our individual resources.

I suppose there is a larger collective benefit in that the makerspace also supports group projects. We hosted two large art projects last summer, and there's another one in the works this year. It might have been harder for these groups to build their projects if they had to rely on people's garages and back yards, instead of having access to a shared work space.
posted by Mars Saxman at 1:45 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

Is there no way to collaborate with Interlock? I haven't visited them in a while, but last I remember there were definitely some folks interested in 'maker stuff' versus 'hacker stuff' (i.e. drill presses and 3D printers, not just lockpicking and linux). I'm guessing you've already considered this though and for some reason(s) couldn't reconcile your goals with theirs?

Speaking of which, the Hungerford Building where Interlock is located seems like a good space for your kind of thing as well. They have a lot of art studios and get some exposure from curious people wandering around on First Fridays. I'd check it out. If not to rent a space there, at least to connect with some of the people in the local art community.

I'm not sure about specifics, but generally one thing you'd be doing for your community is - providing an environment that promotes collaboration between local artists, engineers, and inventors. Would you consider having free classes or open house days for non dues-paying members? It shouldn't be too hard to argue that a makerspace can be a good community resource.

As for funding, maybe something like an art grant is worth checking out?
posted by MrFTBN at 3:31 PM on June 15, 2012

In know the Sculpture Gym here has a grant from the Knight Foundation. And the founder of NextFab recently spoke a panel discussion about urban industry in the region that also included someone from the city commerce department and several industry groups. So they might have suggestions based on how they've promoted themselves.
posted by sepviva at 5:30 PM on June 16, 2012