The Ends of Possibilities

UMass has a Craft Center?

            Yes! It’s downstairs in the Student Union, right across from Earth Foods Cafe. Established in 1971 with the help of leatherworker Penny Worman, the Craft Center has grown into a space for arts and crafts of all kinds. Overseen by a graduate student and staffed entirely by members of our student community, it’s full of valuable resources for making and an open space to be creative. You don’t need any prior experience, or even have a specific project in mind! Pay them a visit any day of the week, or check their webpage for dates of workshops. While students are encouraged to make whatever they like, there are also designated craft areas for specific types of projects. These areas include batik, beading, books, buttons, felting, henna, leather, masks, metal smithing, paper marbling, photography, sewing, silk painting, silk screening, and stained glass.

What’s great about the Craft Center?

            When you first walk in, you can find student staff members behind the counter ready to assist you. If you are a UMass student you can get a membership card for free, which allows you to use the equipment. From paintbrushes to sewing machines to soldering torches, there’s a wide variety of tools available to you. Consumable craft supplies like beads, leather, paint, or thread will often have small charges associated with them, as do many of the workshops offered throughout the week. You can bring in your own projects and supplies from home if you’re just looking for a space to work, or come in and learn from the staff about a craft you’ve never tried.

How does the Craft Center work?

            It’s Funded by the Student Government Association, staffed by our students, and used by our students. The student staff members each spend their first year being trained to teach crafts to others and help run the various components of the Craft Center. The entire staff meets for two hours every week to make collective decisions about how to run the space, which supplies need to be ordered, and what new craft areas to introduce. They also involve everybody in the management work, teaching them how to manage money or hire new employees. This helps the staff develop useful skills while also making sure the needs of the community are being met.

What are the Craft Center’s goals?

            At present it serves as a place where tools, space, and knowledge can be shared between UMass students who love to create. Even if you’ve never taken an art class or dabbled in crafts on your own, the Craft Center provides the opportunity to learn, enjoy, and grow. Members are encouraged to bring along their friends to socialize, and often find new ones here too! With the Student Union renovation on its way, the Center hopes to make space for even more craft areas. A room with more ventilation would allow them to bring back ceramic-making, one of the most popularly-requested crafts. In my interview with them, Graduate Assistant Director Marjorie Valdivia highlighted the importance of making the Craft Center an inclusive and welcoming environment, and Interim Director Peter Mack described it as “kind of outsider-ish…very do-it-yourself and just kind of a creative environment.” While the equipment and space are certainly an important part of the Center, it’s clear that the community of students who visit or work there is the most important element of its continued success.