In the Fall of 2022 the Baltimore Beat reached out to us with an exciting challenge, to create cost effective, locally made newspaper box, complete with extra space for a community exchange to house essential items like socks, hand-warmers, and resources for recovery....

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...

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...

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...

The Open Works Community Survey is now live.  For Open Works to thrive as a shared workspace it's essential that the community has a voice what happens here. Understanding how you use the space and hearing your feedback is the best way for us to know if your needs are...

A Second Home for League of Women of Baltimore City What do a one hundred and two year old voter advocacy organization and a makerspace have in common? Well, our mission at Open Works is to make tools, technology, and the knowledge to use them accessible to all, and...

Great news! The Maryland Makerspace Initiative (SB453) has passed out of committee with favorable reviews and no amendments. We still need your help to make sure this bill gets a vote on the Senate floor! Crossover day is coming up on March 21st, so in order to make...

Open Works member Nichole Sullivan is the founder and chief maker of Keppel & Kismet, a local manufacturer specializing in jewelry, home decor, DIY Kits, and more, or as she so delightfully puts it “gifty goods, made of wood,” as well as running creative workshops...

Lottie’s Place has been open for a few months now, but I haven’t had the opportunity to swing by until last week. That’s a little embarrassing considering that Lawrence Moore and Darryl Patterson, the two talented makers who own and operate Lottie’s Place are long...

You might notice that our lobby is looking a little greener. That’s thanks to Stem and Vine and the beautiful assortment of potted plants, curated specifically for Open Works. They’re still putting some finishing touches on their Charles Street storefront space but an...

Open Works wouldn’t be where we are today without the depth of experience and leadership of our Board of Directors. There have been some big changes to its make-up this fall, so we’d like to take this opportunity to fill you all in. First of all, it is with gratitude...

Come by tomorrow for The Vibe Room's Issue 8 release event! The Vibe Room is a quarterly magazine showcasing the vibrant creative culture in DMV. Issue No. 8 is their first issue dedicated entirely to creative people and spaces here in Baltimore and features an...

We ask that everyone attending our anniversary events practice safe social distancing and wear a mask. THANKS!!! Sept. 29, 7-8pm We're hosting the Charm City Porch Concerts series featuring trumpeter Brandon Woody live on our newly updated patio. Come out and hear...

Open Works is turning five years old!!! That’s right, we first opened our doors in the fall of 2016, which means for the past five years we’ve been making and building this community along with all of you. We were looking forward to pulling out all the stops and...

Reminder Open Works will be closed on Monday for Labor Day. If you’ve never had the chance to see our space, one of our Community Orientation sessions is a great place to start. It’s also the first step to membership. Starting after Labor Day, there will be virtual...

Last weekend's mask sale was so popular, and y'all know what you they say, "lightning always strikes twice while the iron is hot." Keep the sun off your neck, dust off your face, and grease off your hands with our ever versatile, tool patterned Open...

In case anyone missed it, the Mayor's office announced yesterday that, effective 9AM on Monday, August 9th, all Baltimore City residents and guests are required to wear face coverings when indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Open Works has kept our mask policy...

It is so nice to see a full shop after more than a year of restrictions. We're not totally out of the woods yet. Cases are up 129% in Baltimore City, so the masks are staying ON for August. We're grateful for everyone's patience and cooperation.  Looks like we're not...

Looks kinda weird empty, doesn't it? As you may have guessed, we have some bittersweet news for you. After roasting and selling coffee here for the past four years, Thread Coffee Roasters have outgrown Open Works and are moving on to a larger roasting facility. The...

July is off to an exciting start here at Open Works! Just a little over a week into our relaunch and we’ve had so many new and returning members sign up. Micro-studios are getting snatched up left and right (if you’ve been thinking of picking one up better get on...

Well, the first day of our membership relaunch was a little soggy, but at least there were enough breaks in the rain to get out and enjoy our new bench! Even though we’ve been putting a lot of information out about the relaunch and updated policies, with so much...

We are less than one week out from membership relaunch, and we couldn't be more excited!!! With our members returning in a few days, we though it would be a good idea to catch everyone up to speed on the latest check-in and safety procedures. Contact tracing form:...

Have we mentioned that we’re relaunching monthly membership July 1? Even though we’re rolling out the new pricing and membership structure (pro-membership $80/mo., resident-membership $175/mo., day passes $20) that doesn’t mean we’re done with the pandemic just yet....

After more than a year of limitations, we just want to offer you MORE!!! With our July 1 pricing and membership structure re-launch right around the corner, we wanted to take a moment to tell you what's at the heart of these changes. We all had to really figure out...

With monthly memberships resuming July 1st, we wanted to highlight some of what our members have accomplished. Alisa Brock is owner and operator of Drama MaMa Bookshook, a local stationary company that builds on the spot. You also might recognize her from the laser...

Baltimore's Covid trends are all headed in the right direction! With vaccines rolling out, warm weather on the way, and a long hard winter of social distancing behind us, it looks like a move to Phase 2 of the City's reopening plan isn't too far off. However, Mayor...

Big thank you to Margaret (pictured), Audrey, and the whole team at Stanley Black and Decker! On top of supporting Makers Unite with tool and dollar donations, they have cut 79 desks for us on their CNC router up in Towson! We picked up the second batch on Wednesday,...

Makers Unite is going worldwide! We've now had 52 downloads of our desk plans from 14 states, Canada, Australia, and India! Our first local distribution is tomorrow, with just about 200 scheduled to go out the door. We are so excited to get these in the hands of kids...

We have cut over 700 individual desk pieces weighing almost two tons since production started last Monday. That's a lot of desks! We are planning our first distribution days for next Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12 + 13, and we need your help. We are looking for...

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Greenmount West Community Center and the New Greenmount West Community Association  have been collecting and distributing food to neighbors in need. As of the new year, they have been able to secure larger donations from...

Happy New Year! We are relieved and reflective as we turn the page on 2020. It was a tough year, but these wonderful folks made it a lot easier to bear! In coming weeks, we'll be releasing our 2020 annual report and focusing on the work ahead. Despite the flip on the...

Since July, we have been busy filming, writing, and editing our new online/hybrid safety certification pathway! We are excited to finally release it today! The City of Baltimore is still in Phase Two of their COVID-19 reopening plan. During this time, we must cap our...

Need to get out of the house? Open Works has been humming! (in an appropriate, socially-distanced, totally-masked-up-but-chill-vibes kinda-way ;) We'd love to have you down as a guest in our beautiful shops again. Sign up for a reservation and grab a multi-pack of day...

Need to get out of the house? Need access to powerful tools? We've got about 30 gorgeous micro-studios at your disposal, each with a desk, brand-new sneeze guards, four outlets, wi-fi, tons of natural light, high ceilings, fantastic ventilation, cool neighbors -- and...

The last time America faced a crisis this big, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in office. Fortunately, he just had a Depression to deal with -- not a pandemic as well! Open Works supports dozens of small businesses, most of which are too small to have qualified for the...

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...

Hello!  We are ready for you! Sign up for a reservation and come on down for some shop time starting Tuesday, July 7th at 10 AM. Reservations are now active for all shops in MindBody or give us a call at 410-862-0424. Please note that we are closed tomorrow, July 4th,...

Hello!  We are SO EXCITED to welcome you back next week! We've been busy upgrading the space, installing new storage, setting up new tools, and making sure we are ready to be as safe as humanly possible. Like that crisp orange woodgrain mask? It's fresh out of SewLab...

Hello!  Happy Juneteenth! Today we celebrate the day the last enslaved people in Texas learned of emancipation at the close of the Civil War. Not familiar? Learn more about this holiday here. Going forward, we will be adding Juneteenth to the national holidays that we...

Hello!  We hope everyone continues to be safe and healthy in these perilous times.  In the past week, the country has been reckoning with decades of racialized policing. We are proud to have supported Baltimore's peaceful protestors by distributing over 500 face...

Hello!  We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy in these perilous times.  Thank you to everyone who filled out our survey or joined us for the Community Zoom call last Saturday. We've put the call up on YouTube here and would still love to hear your thoughts on...

As the COVID-19 crisis grinds on in Maryland, we are continuing to manufacture critical medical equipment for frontline workers. The Makers Unite initiative has grown so large that we just launched a new permanent online home for it at www.mdmakersunite.org. Check it...

In light of rapidly unfolding public developments, including Howard County's closure of all public spaces under emergency order late this afternoon, we have made the difficult decision to close Open Works for one week effective 3 PM tomorrow, Monday, March 16. Please...

Our metal shop unlocks a whole new level of making, from sheet-metal forming to alloy welding to CNC plasma cutting. Level up with us this week -- we've got BOTH Metal 1 (Safety) and TIG Welding on the schedule. Give us a call at 410-862-0424 or click the link below...

Hello! Thank you for being a part of the Open Works community.  In addition to our educational and community programs, Open Works supports dozens of small businesses and entrepreneurs who depend on our resources for their livelihoods. We take our commitment to all of...

Youth Maker Camp registration is now LIVE! Join us for one of our 5 week-long, half-day Maker Camps starting July 6th. We have sessions in drones, laser cutting, and sewing this summer. Register here! Not affordable for your family? Scholarships available.  + Maker...

Our spring session of Youth Maker Shop is now open for registration! It runs Thursday afternoons from April 16th to May 21st from 4-6 PM with everyone's favorite instructor, Ms. Sharmane! Youth will learn to sew from patterns and make their own bags, clothes, and...

Last year, we had 68 enrollments in our Senior Foundation series! Over 55? Join us for a 4-class series in Wood or Textiles or a revised 5-week version of our Laser class. Can't afford the sticker price? No worries -- it's pay what-you-can. Last year, over half of our...

Meet Blou Harrison! She is a fashion and shoe designer who just set up shop in our upstairs studios. She first engaged with Open Works in 2017 for the very first cohort of our Teen Maker program, then continued into the next school year. After graduating from...

Always wanted to fix that old chair that Grandma gave you? Have an alley rescue that needs a little DIY love? Join us for our Upholstered Footstool class on 3/1! This five hours class covers all the basics of upholstery -- AND you get to keep your...

This photo was taken 8 years ago -- a year before our building was acquired and 4-1/2 years before we opened our doors as Open Works proper. Since then, we've seen hundreds of new affordable housing units -- and hundreds of new faces -- move into the...

Check out our 2-session CNC Plasma Safety class this week. The first session is this coming Tuesday evening, 2/18, from 6-9 PM. Not enough metal for you? Follow it up with TIG Welding Safety on Saturday morning. Prefer less sparky crafts? We've got something in...

Long-time member and 2017 EnterpRISE 2nd-place winner Groundbird Gear just expanded to a FOURTH studio last week! We are so excited to have been able to facilitate their growth with more space, training, and access to tools over the last 3 years. Their...

CNC routers are some of the most powerful tools in our shop, capable of machining plywood, hard plastic, and even aluminum! They are big, loud, and can seem a bit intimidating -- that's why we offer a 6-hour CNC Safety class, so you can get a more thorough intro...

Thank you SO MUCH to Made in Baltimore members for voting us Best Maker Resource 2019! We are also excited to welcome MIB back as a tenant -- expect some new workshops and programming later this spring. Want to join them and 103 other awesome maker-neighbors? We...

Interested in becoming one of the most legendary designers of all time? Winning the Pritzker Prize (the Nobel of architecture)? Cool, no biggie, just join us for Wood Bending on Monday and learn how to get sculptural like Frank Gehry. We can't give you the...