It’s now your turn to find an example of a successful makerspace. We realize that the number of commercial makerspaces is small, so we are opening up the search to include any type of makerspace you think is successful.
Steps to this activity:
1. Find a makerspace that you feel is successful or interesting, and post it it to the comments below with your reasoning.
2. As the week goes on, we will be populating our associated Pinterest page with your examples. Pinterest does not support open collaboration at this time, so if you would like to be directly involved the Pinterest page, please provide your email address and we will add you as a collaborator.
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https://www.facebook.com/eriemakerspace
This is the Erie, PA makerspace.
There is a clear progression through the posts that they are an energetic group, constantly trying to improve their space: adding furniture, internet access, etc.
Also, they appear not to focus on one type of project, they have done everything from basic computer programming to potato gun building and testing.
Thanks for the find, Jason. Looking through their project list does show a variety of interests – along with the potato gun, I thought the “submersible ROV” project looked awesome!
I thought I would investigate makerspaces close to home. While there appears to be a small makerspace at Capilano University, I suspect that I would feel more at home at this makerspace, across the bridge in Vancouver: http://vancouver.hackspace.ca/wp/
According to the calendar, Tuesday night is open night, where you can bring on over your supplies and spend some ‘good times with good people’. Sounds very inviting.
And from their ‘About’ page: Vancouver Hack Space provides a physical space where people can gather to share ideas, equipment, opinions, and beer.
I’m not sure that alcohol and tools are a good fit, but they do seem like a welcoming crowd.
Founded in 2008, with 120 member as of May 2013, sharing 2800 square feet.
Anyone care to dress up in Star Trek costumes and play Artemis?
My gosh, Diane, that looks fun! I wish I would have known about the Vancouver Hack Space when I lived in Vancouver. The group certainly seems organized with their online presence, and it seems like they also have a fair dash of humour and playfulness thrown in the mix. I’ve added it to our Pinterest collection, thank you for the suggestion.
ENTS (Edmonton New Technology Society) is a not for profit member driven society that is open to the public.
http://ents.ca/index.php/Main_Page
They have multiple levels of membership ranging in price from $10 to $50 per month. Those that pay full membership prices have access to the facility 24hrs/day and are provided keys to access all tools. Lower tiers have reduced hours and tool access. They do allow anyone interested to stop by during Hacker Tuesdays to get a tour of the location, tools and any additional information.
I might have to check it out!
Thanks for the find @jetz66, as I looked through the website my eye landed on the bottom right corner link to “Hackerspace Passport.” How cool is the concept – visit as many Hackerspaces around the world as you can, and grow the network not only online but with real-world interaction. A few links later, I landed on a product page at SparkFun (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11079) but the passports themselves are opensource for the using. Thanks for the link and discovery!
Capilano College Makerspace: http://capmakerspace.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/founded/comment-page-1/#comment-1
Does appear rather early stage bootstrapped.
Hello David, thanks for the find, I love their tagline “Like Art but With Robots.” I wonder if this is a case where they are too busy with their real-world activities to keep up with a large online presence. In addition, because the space is only open during the school year, I wonder if they have faced challenges with getting the momentum up and running again after the summer holidays.
I found
http://vancommunitylab.com/
They seem to have a busy activities calendar!
You’re right, they do look busy! Thank you for the suggestion Amber, I’ve pinned it.
I found the Makery
http://www.nycmakery.com/
It look super cool and the kids can make a variety of robotic items. They even have a 3D printer in their lab! I wish I could play here.
Excellent find, Marie-Astrid! I’ve added it to our pinterest page.
I love this: http://www.makermobile.org/
It’s a mobile makerspace (run out of a van) for kids. It was set up by four teachers who travel to different events/locations presenting workshops on circuits, robots, felting, soldering, duct tape craft, 3D printing, etc.
Very cool! Mobile makerspaces are an interesting model, because it largely removes the need to have one’s own space, but brings with it all the complexities of transport and setup. Started by four teachers, Vancouver’s MakerMobile is an excellent example of a social venture (for-profit with a beneficial twist) makerspace, and it may be helpful for prospective entrepreneurs to examine the activities, pricing/program structure, press, and other components of their online presence for ideas towards venture creation. Thanks for the link, it’s been pinned!
I found this international directory for Makerspaces (http://makerspace.com/makerspace-directory). It also offers a ‘Makerspace Playbook’ that “covers many of the challenges involved in creating a space” and “a companion document detailing the uses and costs of a fully stocked inventory for an in-school Makerspace” (http://makerspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/hsmakerspacetoolsmaterials-201204.pdf).
Very good jldr. You found one of the refernces we refer to on this site. The Makerspace Playbook is a good tool for those wishing to set up a non-profit makerspace.
I decided to look close to home and as usual, Nelson proved to be the most interesting city in the area.
http://www.nelson-tech-club.info
Started small, in the back of a computer store, the maker space now resides in the local college. Nelson is unique in its ability to retain and attract talented and motivated citizens but this model may be possible in other locations. It proves that you don’t need to start big and the idea is attractive enough that word of mouth can generate enough traffic.
I wonder if decentralized makerspaces could function. A couch-surfing or air bnb style of workshop/equipment rental and instruction opportunities.
Thanks for the link, @adammatthews. Your idea of a “decentralized makerspace” is actually already a concept in use, as mobile makerspaces concepts provide learning opportunities on the go. Some of these ventures (such as Sprout & Co. outlined in Types of Makerspaces) provide the research and development and programming for mobile delivery, whereas others are actually mobile makerspaces that transport their tools from place to place such as Jen has mentioned above with the MakerMobile in Vancouver. Meanwhile, there is an opensource Hackerspace Passport come from the makerspace consumer side, to help promote learners to visit as many hackerspaces around the world as possible (http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/Hackerspaces_Passport).
We are a decentralized makerspace.
Not mobile, but building in each other’s spaces.
It’s inspired from these movements: urban farming, open source ecology and makerspaces.
– help make our communities more resilient
– be an incubator for sustainable businesses
– foster and build leadership in our communities
http://www.meetup.com/Gatineau-Sustainable-Makerspace-Meetup