Creating more than crafts, makerspace builds community

Art and technology come together in a space where Lansing creatives can learn and make.  

In 2012, a group of crafty individuals met to discuss creating a makerspace in the greater Lansing area. By 2013, Lansing Makers Network moved into its first location. 

“There was a lot of desire for something like this in the community,” said Brian Adams, the organization’s founder and board president. 

Adams referred to what the makerspace has to offer, which includes digital fabrication tools, a machine shop, a woodshop and more as “bait.” The real draw, he said, is the community, with retired members sharing their knowledge and teaching people in the space.  

“You can learn from them. It’s motivation to get your next project moving,” he said. 

The space also helps kickstart small crafting businesses. Beyond that, it’s the adult version of a playground.  

“It’s a great place to potentially reinvent yourself or explore things that you might enjoy doing,” he added. 

When the pandemic hit, Lansing Makers Network closed the space but didn’t expect that to last for a year. Continuing to pay for utilities, insurance and rent, its reserved funds for what Adams called the “next phase” of the makerspace quickly dwindled. 

“We burned through almost all of that,” Adams said. 

Because the organization didn’t have employees, many of the potential pandemic-relief funding sources were not available to them. An Ingham County Sunrise Grant, a pandemic-related relief grant for small businesses and nonprofits, helped keep them afloat. 

Rather than reopening in their former location, they launched a Patronicity campaign to raise $50,000 from the community for a larger space. This amount was matched by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The funding largely went to the move, but it also helped replenish the funds that had been exhausted during the pandemic closure. 

As far as upcoming changes, Adams said they’re in the process of “growing up” as a nonprofit organization. 

“We’re in this new space that comes with a whole lot more costs, a whole lot more expenses, but a whole lot more opportunity,” Adams said. 

The future plans include expanding spaces, expanding class offerings and hiring staff members. 

“We’re still a 100% volunteer organization,” Adams noted, and he explained how this is not a long-term, sustainable plan. 

Volunteers at the makerspace get access to the space during open hours and can get full access for a heavily discounted membership fee. Others wishing to use the space can get an open-hours membership for a monthly fee of $35. Full-access membership costs $80 per month with discounts available for purchasing quarterly or yearly memberships. 

The organization puts on a “How-to Holiday” event each year. The “make and take” event requires tickets for participation. This year, the organization will have a second How-to Holiday fundraiser June 18. The crafts will include blacksmithing windchimes, etching a pint glass, stamping a pendant, pressing pennies and more. 

Adams noted the organization is more than happy to provide public tours during open hours. 

“You cannot adequately explain the makerspace, it’s something that must be experienced,” he said.