Hamilton will soon be home to a new maker space called Art Aggregate that aims to give both professional artists and hobbyists the tools to succeed.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people say ‘I saw this thing on Etsy or I saw this thing on Pinterest and I really want to learn how to do it,'” said founder, Sean McCormack.
“You can do it, you just need to have the skill set and the tools behind you to do that thing.”
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Art Aggregate, a 5500-square-foot industrial building in the Nashdale neighbourhood is equipped to help.
The co-working space offers memberships that provide access to a workshop with everything from 3-D printers and DSLR cameras to sewing machines and saws.
There will also be classes and studio space for more established artists.
Ultimately, the goal, McCormack says, is to limit the cost prohibitive nature of projects and individual studio space.
“After I finished university, all of those tools and space and time and material that you got used to while you were at school got stripped away from you,” he said.
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While McCormack says he was fortunate enough to have some tools at his disposal after completing his BFA, his studio was his parents’ garage, which was limiting and didn’t motivate him to work.
His search for his own personal studio, lead him the conclusion that a shared space would mean more tools and more opportunities to collaborate at a lower cost.
“I just wanted to try to provide a space where these people that were already working in Hamilton, and known in Hamilton and have had time to develop their practice, could continue working in Hamilton.”
The grand opening for Art Aggregate will take place September 23.