About Open Workshops

Organization

Open Workshops is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in the state of Michigan.  You can read and download our organizational documents, board meeting minutes, and financial records on our public drive.

Mission

The mission of Open Workshops is to bring science, technology, engineering, and the arts to everyone by offering community-oriented crafting space and educational events which are open, accessible, and affordable to all.

Guiding Principles

Accessibility

Open Workshops should be as affordable and accessible as possible: we want to eliminate as many barriers to entry as we can. Among other things, these barriers include cost, training, and culture.

Diversity

Making isn’t specific to any one demographic; we want the membership of Open Workshops to be radically inclusive. Any race, any gender, any sexuality, any background - all are welcome in an Open Workshop. What isn’t welcome is harassment or exclusionary behavior or language.

Community

Open Workshops works to foster a community of makers and making, working to create a vibrant and welcoming space for every maker. We encourage the sharing of knowledge and ideas to grow a more capable and informed society. 

Vision

It’s a warm summer weekend in 2026. You’ve decided to take a Saturday and check out a place you heard about from a friend: a makerspace. Maybe you’re familiar with makerspaces, maybe your friend just told you you would like it; either way, you find yourself walking into a building with a sign on it that says Open Workshops.

As you enter, you’re greeted by volunteer staff, who ask what brings you in today. You say you’re checking this thing out for the first time, and the staff member welcomes you and explains where you are: Open Workshops is a makerspace, a public workshop where folks with interests in art, science, technology, engineering, and more can gather, collaborate on projects, use shared equipment, and take and teach classes on all of those things. They ask if you have time for a tour, and you say sure!

On the tour, you find yourself introduced to a vibrant, diverse community of makers of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Perhaps someone is working on a robotics project for school in the electronics lab; maybe you walk by a classroom where a small group is learning how to write computer code. Maybe someone has settled into a comfortable chair in the lounge with their laptop and some coffee to work on their upcoming novel. The 3D printing lab is humming; someone is printing out tabletop miniatures for an upcoming miniature painting workshop. In the design lab, someone has sketched out their latest prototype on a wall of whiteboards. There are additional spaces for crafting, art, woodworking, machining, and more. You pass a calendar of upcoming events; it’s too full to read without stopping, but you spot an upcoming all-ages Lego build-a-thon and a movie night for Hidden Figures (a few years old, but still good). The shop areas you pass through are tidy, bright, and well-equipped; the tools may not always be the top of the line, but they’re clean and well-maintained.

Throughout your tour, you’re struck by how welcoming everyone is; you’re left with the impression that the people you’ve met want you to be here. As the tour wraps up, the staff member asks if you think you’d like to join, and you ask the important question - how much does it cost? They explain that accessibility is one of the guiding principles of Open Workshops; membership fees are priced to be as affordable as possible, and fees for larger, expensive equipment is based on how much you use it. If you’re in a financial position to be able to support the organization further, it’s a huge help in supporting the community and covering the cost of membership for those who can’t afford it.

You choose to sign up; after gathering some information, the staff member hands you a welcome packet and an access card. You ask where to start, and the staff member helps you locate the Open Workshops YouTube channel, with lots of educational, training, and project videos, and the Open Workshops calendar, where you can sign up for upcoming classes and workshops. They show you a range of project kits that go along with the classes and videos; you can pick one up now if it interests you and get right into it. Most importantly, the staff member - and the community - is happy to help you, wherever your interests lie.

Maybe you head home after that; maybe you stick around for a while. Either way... you’ll be back.