On Friday, MADE, St. Louis’ new maker space, hosted its ribbon-cutting ceremony. MADE is a large collaborative space for artisans on Delmar Boulevard, just across the street from Third Degree Glass Factory. Its open floor plan is dotted with large, complex machines.
The ribbon cutting came exactly a year after TechShop, St. Louis’ only maker space, closed its doors, leaving artists without a central location to share equipment and a workspace.
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“It’s been just an amazing effort on everybody’s part to be able to hustle and in 365 days, put together the locally run, beautiful maker space that we have here,” MADE member director Emily Elhoffer says.
At the ribbon cutting, makers led real demonstrations on some of the equipment. Newbies can quickly learn how to use all of the equipment in MADE’s classes. They begin this week and are required before using the equipment. The training classes help users learn how to handle the equipment safely and without inadvertently damaging it.
Right now, MADE’s classes are open to those 18 and older, though 14-and-older opportunities will open up sometime after January 1. Even more exciting, the Magic House will be opening a satellite location directly upstairs for children in the summer of 2019.
“Kids can come in at any age and start at the Magic House, and then as they grow up, as they build their skills up there, they can graduate and come down to the adult makerspace,” Elhoffer says.
The second floor will also host private studio space that people can rent out for periods of time.
Membership at MADE is $50 per month, with differing additional hourly costs for each type of equipment.
“This is really the only area I can think of in St. Louis that you’re able to weld metal and then just a few steps away, start sewing up clothing, garments if you want to,” Elhoffer says. “Being able to use such a diverse selection of equipment for a diverse selection of materials as well allows you to try out things you otherwise wouldn’t be able to.”
