Maker's Space for handmade fine crafts

Welcome to my Maker's Space Meetup group! I'm a fine craftsman hoping to build a maker's space by the Jersey Shore with others who share a similar vision for an inclusive maker's space creating fine metal, metal, ceramic, glass, fiber, and wood work for beginners and professionals. I'm also hoping to find out if there would be enough interest in the community for a space like this. I don't have a set location or set idea if this space would be for profit or not for profit. Just casting the net wide and see what happens.

The Crafts Department: An Inclusive Makerspace
Vision Statement 2030

It is mid-October, 2030, as I leave The Crafts Department, our makerspace in Asbury Park, NJ, I left behind a hive of excited makers preparing for the opening of our group show at the gallery and all of us are ramping up productions for the annual holiday arts and crafts fair.  The economy and our people are finding its equilibrium.  The mood is hopeful and we are optimistic that the turnout and sales will be the best one yet.  

The Crafts Department was conceived in 2023 with creating an inclusive accessible community in the forefront of our vision and design.  The makerspace is in a 30,000 sq ft space with 200 members, employing 20 people, and supporting 50 people making a living through The Crafts Department.  All the studios, metal, ceramics, glass, wood, and fiber, are separated by uplifting colors, patterns, and texture.  Motion sensors announce where the person is in the space.  We have a 3D embossed and Braille printer to enable us to label all the tools and print SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for the equipment.  All the studios have areas set up for wheel chair height.  People with special needs and their peer support makers pay one membership fee.  We work closely with members, staff, and the Moceans Center for Independent Living to improve and accommodate people with disabilities.  Disabilities can happen to us at any time, sometimes temporarily, sometimes permanently.  Some members were able to keep working after an accident or illness with compassionate support from others and learn from other members dealing with similar issues.  The members and staff who do not currently have a disability were inspired everyday and have truly learned to have a beginner’s mind and embraced finding new and creative solutions for many problems.

The Making Spaces
We have 5 major studios with substudio spaces.  
Metal

• Non ferrous metalsmithing where we fabricate with material like gold, silver, brass, and copper
• Ferrous metal shop
  • Black smithing where we forge steel
  • Welding shop where we fabricate with steel

Ceramics

• Hand built area
• Throwing wheels area
• Glazing room
• Firing kilns

Fiber

• Weaving
• Dying
• Sewing

Glass

• Cold
• Warm
• Hot

Wood

• Workbench
• Stationary machine area
• Finishing area

When I decided I wanted to embark on this crazy journey, after I got laid off from a 13 year art fabrication job working for an installation artist in 2023, I had no idea I would be so fortunate that The Crafts Department will become my “real work” where I make $100,000 a year, and have collectors for my fine crafts.  When The Crafts Department was opened, there was a recession.  The country was still recovering from the aftermath of the US Covid 19 shut down.  Interest rates were high.  The real estate bubble had burst.  The job market was slow.  People were worried about AI replacing humans in several industries.  Social media was making genuine human connection more difficult.

With my small amber of an idea for a maker’s space, I reached out to Katie Ruby, my best friend from College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan.  She immediately sent me a series of links to various maker’s spaces in the metro Detroit area.  And through some “the universe will provide” miracle, I came across Maker Works’ Maker’s Space Business Bootcamp which I attended almost exactly 7 years ago.

At the camp, I met Lauren Grudzinski and David Zaniewski.  They were advocates for accessibility for people with disabilities.  After spending several lunches picking their brains, they inspired me to create a maker’s space that would be inclusive to as many people as possible.  It was the first time my anxiety and fear of starting this huge project turned into excitement.

After the camp, I gathered a bunch of old friends from college for dinner.  We had not seen each other for 20 years, but we all showed up.  Some of them had to drive 2 hours each way.  It really reinforced my belief that we had a true community when we were in school.  Sadly, only Katie still made art work in her spare time and all the others had different jobs.  They were all talented people and missed creating art.  I can’t help to think, if there was a fine crafts makerspace they could’ve gone to, would they be doing what they love for a living instead?

The Community
Before I left Michigan, Katie and I had an impromptu studio visit. She worked alone in her garage and the only feedback she received was based on what she sold.  Man, we did not enjoy those critiques during school, but they sure would've been helpful after we left and tried to make it on our own!  I saw ways she could enhance her personal vision and, at the same time, prioritize time spent on the part of her work that was more meaningful to her.  I saw the need for a place for emerging artists to find their own voice and to learn the business of making a living off of their crafts.  How many times do we complain about school not teaching skills for “real life”?  I want a space for those fine craftsmen/artists/makers who need help learning how to make their passion profitable.  I want a space for many of us who think it would not be possible to make art for a living.

Instead of craftsmen competing against each other for business, we created an uplifting and supportive community not unlike the best part of art school.  We came together during critique to help elevate and improve each other’s work.  We also had professional artists and gallerists come to our open studios for visits.  

Because of our custom made ability, staff and members were able to find work from people and other businesses looking for help with custom projects.  Our gift shop provides one of a kind pieces for customers.  The holiday sale always drew a big crowd.

We have a gallery where we have six shows a year.  It not only gives us an opportunity to showcase our artists, it also provides experience for staff and members who might be interested in working in or running a gallery.  The shows also created work for other members in making pedestals, display cases, etc.  The gallery helps build confidence for the emerging artists and gallerists to put their works and ideas out in the world.  

The Show and Tell Spaces

• Gift Shop
• Gallery

Being a craftsman who worked for and with other artists and jewelers for 17 years, I can tell you we are not always the best business people.  Even if some of us are, it is not usually the part of the business we enjoy the most.  So to help members spend as much time as possible in the creating and making, we provide services for the not fun but necessary things like accounting and marketing.  The business center of The Crafts Department helped 50 members successfully launch and continue to operate their handmade businesses.  It is such a boost to our spirits on the staff when we see an artist able to devote more of themselves to their art, even if it was just by removing obstacles.

The Crafts Department embraces the philosophy of servant leadership and uses open book management.  We have weekly meetings and classes to educate staff and managers where we also share and teach our mission, vision, culture, guiding principles, and principles of safety.  We’ve sent managers and staff who were interested to Maker Works and ZingTrain classes for deep dives.  They always come back with enthusiasm and new ideas to share.  Our management classes are open to members.  80% have adopted our practices for their own businesses.  

For a community to thrive, is to have happy people.  To be happy is to have balance.  Work/life, mind/body balance.  That is why we have child care services and places for members to recharge and think.

The Reality Check Areas

• Business Spaces
  • Business consulting offices 
  • Marketing for staff and members 
  • Room of Requirement. A shared teaching/meeting room
• Cafe
• Shared lounge/meal area
• Recovery massage therapist office
• Exercise room
• Child Care

Members

• Professionals - Already have their own handmade business but are looking to grow without investing in the more expensive equipment.
• Beginning Professionals - looking to start their own fine crafts business.  We provided them the space and equipment, business consulting, marketing, and child care to help them become successful entrepreneurs.
• Makers/Hobbyists - They have other jobs but still enjoy making.  They can afford the membership fee and enjoy having a third space to go to.  Some of them are knowledgeable with the equipment and some just want to know more techniques and learn about other mediums.
• Assistant Makers - They have the spirit of the other makers but lack the funding for the membership fees.  They took jobs at the shop in exchange for the membership fees.  They did cleaning, maintenance, front desk, teaching classes, child care and assisted our accessibility members with their projects.
• Accessibility Package Members - They have special needs that would require a peer support maker.  They share one membership fee as they work in pairs.

At The Crafts Department, safety is a PRIORITY!  We prioritize safety through check out classes and SOPs (Safety Operating Procedures) binders near each equipment.  Members are welcome to make recommendations for improvements to the staff.  And continuous improvements are made after careful considerations by staff and experts.  

Programs
Classes

• Check Out Classes - Every member has to complete before they are allowed access to tools and equipment that pose a danger to the user or people nearby, or where the tool could easily be damaged by misuse.
• Project Classes - We have single day and multi day classes for members to acquire new skills and maybe take home a finished item.
• Business Classes - These are required by the staff to learn and understand the financial situation of the organization.  Also available to members.
• Critiques - Where we help other fine craftsmen continue to improve and refine their work.  We have also invited professional artists and gallerists to these critique sessions.
• Scholarships - We’ve given out 5 scholarships a year to members and staff to art or vocational schools.

Income
We make some income from classes and receive a 20% commission on the sales in the gift shop and the gallery, but the main income is from membership fees, private studios and locker space rentals for members.

• Levels of membership
  • Monthly Memberships
    • Private studio with 24 hour access.
    • General membership with 24 hour access.  Have to be approved by staff.
    • General membership during business hours.
  • 10 packs
  • Classes only, pay per class
  • Discounted memberships for students, seniors, and veterans.

Future
We are at a great place.  Financially, the staff are well paid.  We were able to make enough money to invest in more technology based equipment like laser welders, CNC machines, 3D printers and scanners and computers capable of handling 3D modeling softwares.  Our gallery is getting recognition from the art world.  We have scholarship students graduating from art schools and vocational schools.  We continue to innovate new ways to help our members with disabilities do more of the making themselves.  When we surveyed our members and staff, 99% felt valued, safe, and happy being part of The Crafts Department community.  I am now looking into ways for me to hand over more responsibilities to the staff and spend 2 months out of the year traveling to different countries for workshops and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training.  In another 5 years, I will be able to turn The Crafts Department to an employee-owned company and enjoy the benefit of being just a member.