The Hawk Makerspace, an immersive creativity incubator in Farmington Hills, is adding new classes and workshops starting in September. New programs range from one-day sewing workshops to comprehensive multi-week woodworking classes. Registration for fall programs is open now at fhgov.com/makerspace.

 

“The Hawk Makerspace is a place where makers are only limited by their own imagination,” said Jessica Guzmán, coordinator for the City of Farmington Hills Cultural Arts Division, which includes The Hawk Makerspace. “With access to professional tools and equipment, and the support of a welcoming community of makers, The Hawk Makerspace helps creators build connections through shared skills, resources and experiences.”

 

In celebration of its third anniversary, The Hawk Makerspace will welcome the public to experience the shared studio during a free open house on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 3-7 p.m. There will be demonstrations of the state-of-the-art equipment, prizes and special discounts.

 

Located within The Hawk, the City of Farmington Hills’ award-winning recreation and arts venue, The Hawk Makerspace is a shared studio designed to empower makers of any skill-level, through providing access to a high-quality technical and artistic space, including highly skilled instructors. The Hawk Makerspace offers one-day workshops that give creatives a sample of the full experience, as well as multi-week classes that allow makers to fully immerse themselves in a new skill or solidify an old hobby. Programs are available to makers of different ages and interests, catering to absolute beginners and experts, including hobbyists, crafters and entrepreneurs.

 

This fall, multi-week classes in The Hawk Makerspace cover varying levels of sewing instruction, weaving and screen-printing in the craft lab, and a selection of woodworking classes in the woodshop. Highlights include:

 

·      Build Your Own Little Free Library, a new six-week class on Tuesday evenings starting Sept. 16. In this class, participants will earn the essential skills needed to construct their very own Little Free Library from start to finish. Using a variety of woodworking tools, including various saws, routers, and sanders, students will gain hands-on experience in measuring, cutting, assembling, and finishing their projects. Each week will focus on different aspects of construction from selecting materials and planning the design to assembling and weatherproofing the final structure. By the end of the course, participants will leave with a fully functional Little Free Library, ready to install and share books with their community.

 

·      Tween Sewing, a new six-week class for ages 11 to 13 on Thursdays after school starting Sept. 18 or Nov. 6. This class is the perfect starting point for young creators eager to learn how to sew. In this beginner-friendly course, students will learn the fundamentals of sewing, including using a sewing machine, understanding basic stitches and fabric types, and reading simple patterns to make pillows, bags, and more. The class will build new skills each week with various projects, giving young creators the confidence to make their own unique items by the end of the class.

 

In addition to multi-week classes, The Hawk Makerspace offers a selection of one-day workshops for creators of all ages, including Handcrafted Cutting Board in the woodshop and Mend or Adorn: The Art of Needle Felting in the craft lab, both for ages 16 and up. There are also a variety of youth workshops for makers ages 8 to 12 and their guardian, including a favorite from last year, You & Me Squishy Stuffed Toys.

 

The Hawk Makerspace also has open studio hours, allowing for self-directed use of the studio’s premium equipment, including a full woodshop with professional-quality saws, planers, sanders and routers, and a craft lab with a longarm quilter, an industrial sewing machine, laser cutter, 3D printer, and more. Self-guided use is available to daily, monthly or annual Passholders, which include hobbyists, experts and small business owners. Prior to self-guided use, Passholders must complete a checkout course, covering safety protocols and basic instructions, for each piece of equipment they plan to use. Open studio hours for Passholders are Tuesday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. You do not need to be a Passholder to sign up for instructor-led workshops, classes and checkout courses.

 

The Hawk Makerspace opened in September 2022 as a facility within the City’s Special Services Department Cultural Arts Division with support from the Bosch Community Fund. The City of Farmington Hills has the largest dedicated municipal Cultural Arts Division in the State of Michigan. In addition to managing The Hawk Makerspace, the Division coordinates arts programming for the community, including classes, events, and activities in visual and performing arts, and year-round performances at The Hawk Theatre, with the goal of exposing the community to the arts. In 2023, the Michigan Parks and Recreation Association (mParks) recognized The Hawk Makerspace for outstanding facility design.

 

The Hawk Makerspace is on the second floor of The Hawk, located at 29995 W. 12 Mile Road, between Orchard Lake and Middlebelt Roads. For more information about The Hawk Makerspace, including class descriptions, program fees, and program or Passholder registration, visit fhgov.com/makerspace or call 248-699-6489.

 

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