MakerSphere looks to add Moretown workshop
June 21, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti
A year ago, MakerSphere put out a survey to gauge community interest in launching a shared workshop facility for woodworking, metal and glass crafting, and other hands-on creative projects that require space and tools.
The response was very encouraging with more than 100 community members weighing in saying they liked the idea, according to project organizers.
This week, the Waterbury arts nonprofit is seeking approval from the Moretown Development Review Board for permission to repurpose a commercial building on U.S. Route 2 into a facility where the organization can expand both its footprint and its programming.
Launched in 2018, MakerSphere runs a variety of arts, crafts and maker classes and programs at its headquarters at 30 Foundry Street and its clay and ceramics studio at the former Seminary Arts space on Hollow Road in Waterbury Center. Seminary Arts merged with MakerSphere in 2021. The Foundry Street location also has studio space for artists to lease and hold classes and workshops.
This past school year, instructors from MakerSphere also offered after-school programs at Crossett Brook Middle School. Student woodworking and cooking classes took place in the school’s tech-ed space and sustainability kitchen.
This new endeavor in Moretown would add a wood and metal workshop into the mix, offering memberships along with opportunities for collaboration and instruction, according to Dana Hudon, a MakerSphere board member and instructor. MakerSphere’s clay studio presently runs on a membership model as well.
After months of searching and planning, the organization last week announced that it has signed a lease to rent a 2,500-square-foot workshop space in the building on Route 2 formerly known as Ray's Auto Body. It’s owned by Ted and Candace Brunell who operate a car repair business and a salon adjacent to the former body shop.
“We have taken a leap of faith, but feel very positive that this is the right space and the right time for this venture,” said Mame McKee, MakerSphere’s director of Educational Programming. “Ted and Candace Brunell of Ted’s Kar Kare, have been wonderful to work with and we can’t wait to offer this space to our community.”
MakerSphere is on the Moretown DRB agenda for Thursday with a request to change the commercial use designation. In the meantime, volunteers have already begun to clean the space up and start outfitting it with items needed to create a workshop.
Hudson said the MakerSphere board and instructors envision the facility being a home for activities such as beginner and intermediate woodworking classes, stained-glass-window workshops, 3D-printer access, with a member-based woodshop for local woodworkers to meet and use shared equipment.
“Our board unanimously decided to make this happen, even though we knew we were taking a financial risk with the start-up costs,” said board Vice President MK Monley.
“There seems to be endless ideas right now of how this space can be used. Some ideas include boat-building classes, homeowner DIY workshops, after-school woodshop for middle and high schoolers, leatherwork lessons, stained-glass making,” Monley said. “We hope to offer many new and exciting opportunities to our greater Waterbury community that develop new skills and offer much needed fun in all our lives.”
Hudson said setting up will take place over the summer with the goal to begin offering after-school classes and weekend workshops in the fall. To get started, MakerSphere is putting out a call for both monetary and tool donations. Organizers plan to hold a tool drop-off event on Saturday and Sunday, July 8-9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. where people can stop by to contribute.
The new shop can accept hand tools in good-to-excellent condition such as hammers, hand saws, coping saws, clamps, vices, chisels and file sets, hand planes, etc. Measuring tools such as bench rulers, squares, etc. are needed. They will accept corded power tools such as drills, jigsaws, palm- or belt-sanders, etc. No battery-operated tools, however.
Insurance requirements will not allow for accepting donated large table-top equipment such as table saws or band saws. Monetary donations will be used for purchasing new equipment along those lines, Hudson said.
Other setup supplies such as heavy-duty utility shelves, lockable cabinets for tool storage and utility workbenches would be welcome.
Hudson said one of the first events may be a work party to build work tables and benches. So far, the new shop doesn’t have a formal name. “We haven’t decided on that yet,” Hudson said. “But I know where we can make a sign.”
For more information about donating tools or supplies, email makerspherevt@gmail.com. Volunteers are willing to arrange for pickup for large items to be donated. The workshop space is located at 329 U.S. Route 2 near Ted's Kar Kare. More information online about MakerSphere at makerspherevt.com.
The Moretown Development Review Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Moretown town offices, 79 School St., adjacent to the Moretown School.