Open Works
Open Works Weekly 7/10/2020
Over the last 100 days, Open Works stood up while most of the world had to hunker down. We did whatever it took to protect our neighbors, our community, and the frontline fighters staring down COVID in hospital corridors and on city streets. Above are just a few of the many notes we received from healthcare workers and donors along the way.
In return, we have been overwhelmed by your generosity. People all over the country reached out to help, donating face shield parts, food, supplies, and money. We are beyond grateful for your help.
But now we are entering a new phase of this crisis. Open Works supports over 50 small businesses that generate over $5M in economic impact in Baltimore City each year. The small businesses, entrepreneurs, and artists that make up our membership are too small to have qualified for most government assistance programs, and many have had to close up shop or cut costs. Since reopening last week, we have lost 30% of our studio tenants and 60% of our typical revenue.
We need your help in order to keep helping others. Today, we are rolling out a new affiliate membership program on our website. Please sign up for a $5, $10, or $20 recurring monthly donation. Subscribers help give us a funding stream that we can count on as we put our back into the hard work of rebuilding Baltimore’s economy. Thank you in advance. We look forward to serving you for years to come.
Sneeze Guards
We are excited to announce we are now producing freestanding 24″ x 32″ countertop sneeze guards for your business, school church, or camp. Reopen safely with this simple layer of protection. Made of sanitize-able 1/8″ acrylic, these sturdy shields are perfect at cash registers, registration desks, or host stations. $60, for local pick up only. Delivered flat-pack with protective film still on to protect from scratches. Purchase here.
Yard Sale
As our first post-pandemic event, we are throwing a Community Yard Sale on Saturday, July 25th. We unearthed lots of surplus furniture, tools, and materials during our deep clean, and we are unloading them cheap. Do you have some odds https://masterra.com/ and ends to to sell? Sign up to be a vendor here.
Virtual Community Orientation
Want to become a member? Need to (finally) get out of working from home? No worries! We are running virtual community orientations for folks interested in renting micro-studios on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Get a video tour of the space, an explanation the membership contract with our staff, and a Q+A session at the end. Sign up in MindBody here.
Making In Place Kits
Make along with us with our ‘Making In Place’ Craft Kits! We’ve designed 6 awesome DIY activities for the junior makers in your life to keep their little hands active over summer break. Each kit includes supplies for six projects to make along with video tutorials available on Youtube.
- Pocket Loom
- Face Mask
- T-shirt Tote
- Animal Mobile
- Sidewalk Stencils
- Recycled Crayons
$30 ($5/activity), local pickup only. Pickup on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 AM-4 PM. Please note that orders will be filled on the following Wednesdays or Fridays after purchase or same day if ordered before 1. Purchase here, $30 ea. ($5/per activity).
Open Works is Elevating our Game Night Experience
Open Works, the vibrant community hub, is thrilled to announce dynamic collaborations that promise to elevate its renowned Game Night experience, held every 4th Wednesday. In a strategic move to enrich the engagement of our members and community, Open Works now offers...
Open Works Announces Exciting Partnership with Rubys Artist Grant
Open Works is thrilled to announce our partnership with the prestigious Rubys Artist Grant program. The Rubys Artist Grants are known for providing direct funding of up to $15,000 to Baltimore-area artists, empowering them to embark on innovative projects with...
DIG Fellow: Josh Russakis
Meet Josh Russakis I grew up in Baltimore went to City College for high school. My making discipline straddles a lot of areas. I restore, customize, and modifying vintage motorcycles in my own shop. I design and make furniture for my home, silicone molds to cast...
DIG Fellow: Lindzor Parker
Meet Lindzor Parker Lindzor is a Maine raised and Baltimore based silly goose with an overwhelming drive to create. Despite many trials and tribulations, nothing has stopped Lindzor from pursuing their dream as an artist. Their journey started as a seed volunteering...
DIG Fellow: Aliana Grace Bailey
Meet Aliana Grace Bailey Aliana Grace Bailey is an interdisciplinary fiber artist—taking up space with bold softness. She was born and raised in DC, and has lived and worked in Baltimore since 2018. Working in surface pattern design, large-scale weavings,...
DIG Fellow: LaQuida Chancey
Meet LaQuida Chancey LaQuida Chancey, also known as Quida or Q, is an East Baltimore resident. She designs shelters, hosts micro-shelter design thinking workshops with community members and teaches them how to safely use tools. In 2019, she designed and built a 20...
DIG Fellow: MC Carey
Meet MC Carey MC Carey (they/them) is a printmaker and lover from Columbia, MD now making and living in Baltimore! MC loves playing with texture and creating hand carved linoleum block prints throughMee their print studio, Femme Prints. When they aren’t getting only,...
Open Works Weekly 4/7/23
Increasing Digital Equity Beginning this Spring! A number of different neighborhoods throughout central Baltimore will be able to charge their devices and access WiFi thanks to our partnership with the Central Baltimore Partnership (CBP). The 29th Street Community...
The Open Works Future Fund
Open Works is in the process of establishing a network of makerspaces, and we're reaching out to seek your assistance! This month, we have an exciting project underway: constructing a shed near our loading dock. This shed will help free up valuable studio space inside...
Open Works Weekly 3/31/23
Do you want to bring your young person into the Textiles shop to sew with you? It's time to get them youth certified! Combined with our new youth membership option, we now offer a portable sewing machine class that prepares you and your young person for working...
Open Works Weekly 3/24/23
We've got just TWO of our 105 micro-studios left! Small but mighty, each comes with fast wi-fi, an optional workbench, and conference room privileges. But the best part is joining up with the fascinating and wide-ranging creative community! And have we mentioned the...
Open Works Weekly 3/17/23
TODAY! Join us at 10:30 with your little one for story time with Mrs. Abigail! Grab a coffee from our friends at Black Acres and enjoy songs, stories, and activities. While you're in, it would also be a perfect time to register any older siblings for Maker Camp 2023....
Open Works Weekly 3/10/23
One of our FAVORITE things to do is connect makers with opportunities! There are a lot coming up in the next few weeks -- check out the links below for accelerators, competitions, and vending opportunites.+ The inaugural Make/Space Accelerator is now accepting...
Open Works Weekly 3/3/23
Enrollment is OPEN for Maker Camp 2023! We are offering 5 weeks of half-day summer camp exploring drones, digital design, and fabrication skills for ages 8-15. All 5 weeks sold out last year, so don't wait! Scholarships are always available here. Not sure about...
Open Works Weekly 2/24/23
Today is the 3rd day of our EPIC wood shop reorganization! We are busy cleaning, labeling, engraving, inventorying, pegboarding, and moving machines to improve member experience. It will take another week or so to wrap up final touches. Going forward, each tool will...
Open Works Weekly 1/12/23
There are still a few open spot for official premiere of the Black Butterfly Dream Lab with Dr. Lawrence Brown. Participants will play the board game Urban Cipher, view a history exhibit, examine Baltimore City's budget, and literally build a more equitable...
Open Works Weekly 1/6/23
It's been quite some time in the planning process, but the cafe take-away window is finally up and running! Currently open from 8–9am, you can now grab take out from Black Acres Roastery just a few short steps away from the ample parking along Greenmount Ave. As part...
Open Works Weekly 12/23/22
Just a few quick things before we close up for the break. We're closing early today, at 3:00pm due to staff being out sick, and will be closed, as planned through 1/2/23. We want to encourage everyone to stay safe and healthy out there. We also wanted...
Station North Arts Walk
TONIGHT!!! 5–8PM Tonight is Station North Arts Walk’s Spotlight on Greenmount West and Open Works will serve as a hub with a maker’s mart, food vendors, and music from DJ Trillnatured. Registration is not required, but appreciated. Maker Vendors...
Open Works Weekly 6/24/22
Today, we’re graduating the first cohort of the Baltimore Sewn Trades Training Program!!! Congrats to Kay, Ellie, Jody, Will, T., D., and Devan! It’s hard to sum up all the hard work and detailed learning that went into completing this program, but the slim binder...
The Boutique Life at Open Works
Number one perk of writing the Open Works newsletter is the opportunity to go around asking our talented members a bunch of questions about their work. Last week I had a chance to sit down and chat with Samantha Montgomery from The Boutique Life, one of our resident...
Open Works Weekly 5/13/22
Are you interested in computer-aided design, CNC routers, 3D printing, laser cutting, or making furniture? The Makers Unite CAD Training program teaches AutoDesk Fusion 360, use and operation of our CNC (computer numerical control) wood routers, and basic woodworking...
