{"id":1593,"date":"2014-08-06T12:50:11","date_gmt":"2014-08-06T12:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=1593"},"modified":"2014-08-06T16:53:44","modified_gmt":"2014-08-06T16:53:44","slug":"sparkmacon-our-makerspace-for-macon-ga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/sparkmacon-our-makerspace-for-macon-ga\/","title":{"rendered":"SparkMacon: Our MakerSpace for Macon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- Facebook Like Button v1.9.6 BEGIN [http:\/\/blog.bottomlessinc.com] -->\n<iframe src=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Finspiredtoeducate.net%2Finspiredtoeducate%2Fsparkmacon-our-makerspace-for-macon-ga%2F&amp;layout=standard&amp;show_faces=false&amp;width=450&amp;action=like&amp;colorscheme=light\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowTransparency=\"true\" style=\"border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height: 30px; align: left; margin: 2px 0px 2px 0px\"><\/iframe>\n<!-- Facebook Like Button END -->\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sparkMaconLogo.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1594 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sparkMaconLogo-300x201.png\" alt=\"Spark Macon\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sparkMaconLogo-300x201.png 300w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/sparkMaconLogo.png 663w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>SparkMacon is a community innovation space equipped with the tools, equipment, and grass-roots education required to convert your idea into a reality. \u00a0\u00a0Think of it as a gym membership to exercise your creativity, hands and brain. \u00a0\u00a0Our community will serve artisans, technology creatives, and creative tinkers with access to tools and equipment, training, and support for entrepreneurs. \u00a0In our vision, the space will be equipped with a wood \/ metal working shop, electronic lab tools and supplies, a laser cutter, engraver, music recording lab, and a professional grade 3D printer giving Macon makers access to tools that would be cost prohibitive to own yourself. \u00a0Join the Spark Macon project: the movement to build the community and space for grass-roots innovation and art in Macon, GA. \u00a0\u00a0Together, we will blend the best of art and technology innovation.<\/p>\n<p><b>What benefits will SparkMacon bring to the community?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Fostering a Maker City:<\/b> Why should Silicon Valley have all the fun? \u00a0\u00a0We believe that Middle Georgia has the vision and talent to become a center of excellence in art and technology. \u00a0\u00a0We look forward to the day that members of our SparkMacon community assume leadership roles in our local economy and start new small businesses. \u00a0\u00a0Our SparkMacon community will provide the equipment, tools, and grass-roots training that you need to convert your idea into a reality. \u00a0\u00a0SparkMacon will provide hands-on learning opportunities in 3D modeling, marketing, arts, shop skills, running your business, and training for the tools in the space. \u00a0We believe that our space will help attract top technology talent to Macon, GA. \u00a0Many of these classes and meet-ups will be led by SparkMacon community members.<\/p>\n<p><b>Young Makers Program: <\/b>At SparkMacon, we believe it\u2019s important to help our students be prepared for the economy of the future. \u00a0\u00a0This economy will demand that our citizens be innovative, creative and use technology effectively. \u00a0In our young makers program, we will challenge students to envision and design their own projects. \u00a0\u00a0It could be a game, a toy, a mobile app, art, a website or anything they can imagine. \u00a0\u00a0Our maker mentors will support the students with coaching, tools training, and resources to help them bring their designs to life in a project based learning experience. \u00a0 We hope to inspire the next generation of makers to love learning and help them be creative and curious.<\/p>\n<p><b>Growing the Creative Economy:<\/b> Creativity is contagious. \u00a0In the SparkMacon community, we encourage artists and artisans to support each other in their crafts. \u00a0We believe that cross-discipline sharing between artists and technologists will inspire a bold movement of innovation in Macon. \u00a0\u00a0Funding and marketing are top concerns to all artists, technology makers, and business owners. \u00a0\u00a0Our community will need to grow a culture of leadership and entrepreneurship through education and social meet-ups. \u00a0\u00a0All great ideas are the result of extensive focus, ideation, prototyping, measurement and learning from wins and failures. \u00a0\u00a0Our space will provide the culture, space, and tools so that you can build, measure, and learn quickly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u00a0does a MakerSpace look like?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We are very thankful to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IAmTheRealGreg\" target=\"_blank\">Greg Richardson<\/a>\u00a0for helping us plan out key aspects of our MakerSpace. \u00a0 Mr. Richardson is a founder of <a href=\"http:\/\/7hillsmake.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">7 Hills MakerSpace<\/a> in Rome, GA. \u00a0 I have included a video tour from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/hackaday.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">HackADay.com<\/a> of 7 Hills MakerSpace\u00a0to help us collectively envision the potential of SparkMacon MakerSpace.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/T0Zaz6Zvx7s\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>What is the status of Maker Space?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It has been a great pleasure to serve on the community board for SparkMacon to help get the space and community started.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We are thankful to the <a href=\"http:\/\/gta.georgia.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\">Georgia Technology Authority<\/a> and Bill Price for sponsoring a $54,000 grant to help kickstart our efforts.<\/li>\n<li>Robert Betzel and Brent Lanford have established the LLC that will be operating and sustaining the SparkMacon MakerSpace efforts.<\/li>\n<li>Our leadership team is currently reviewing two potential locations for space in down town Macon.<\/li>\n<li>To help raise additional money to support our space and ensure that our space is ADA compliant, we have started recording an IndieGogo crowd funding campaign. \u00a0 \u00a0 Keep watching InspiredToEducate.NET and <a href=\"SparkMacon.com\" target=\"_blank\">SparkMacon.com<\/a> for news and updates.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #555555;\">Over the past four months, I have had the privilege to work with\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"color: #0085cf;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.middlegeorgiarc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Middle Georgia Regional Commission<\/a><span style=\"color: #555555;\">,\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"color: #0085cf;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.infinitynetworks.net\/\" target=\"_blank\">Infinity Network Solutions<\/a><span style=\"color: #555555;\">,\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"color: #0085cf;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.collegehillmacon.com\/index.php\/about\/college-hill-alliance\" target=\"_blank\">College Hill Alliance<\/a><span style=\"color: #555555;\">,\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"color: #0085cf;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.maconartsalliance.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Macon Arts Alliance<\/a><span style=\"color: #555555;\">,\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"color: #0085cf;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tagonline.org\/chapters-and-societies\/middle-georgia\/\" target=\"_blank\">TAG Middle Georgia<\/a><span style=\"color: #555555;\">, and\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"color: #0085cf;\" href=\"http:\/\/mercergdg.blogspot.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mercer Google Developer group<\/a><span style=\"color: #555555;\">\u00a0on a community project to help grow our maker community and build a shared creative space in Macon, GA. \u00a0 All of our team members have grown and learned so much through our collaborations.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The direction and focus of the SparkMacon MakersSpace will be directed by our community of members. \u00a0 The success of the SparkMacon MakerSpace rests with our community. \u00a0 We&#8217;re currently thinking through decisions on tools to purchase, classes to offer to serve makers, and how to organize the space. \u00a0 \u00a0If you&#8217;re interested in being a part of that discussion, please join our Facebook group and follow us on Twitter. \u00a0 We would also love your thoughts on classes you would enjoy taking to support your business and your craft.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Facebook Group:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/sparkmacon\/\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/sparkmacon\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Twitter:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sparkmacon\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/sparkmacon<\/a>\u00a0 If you have maker or SparkMacon related news to share, please consider using the #sparkmacon hash tag on Pinterest and Twitter.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/1PKzWTMcVrQfMXs1R605PaSuf-Z_BhID5NdbIa5nzeIQ\/viewform\" target=\"_blank\">What classes on Making do you want? ( 5 minute survey)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/sparkMacon.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1544\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/sparkMacon.png\" alt=\"Spark Macon Draft Floor Plan\" width=\"600\" height=\"945\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/sparkMacon.png 600w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/sparkMacon-190x300.png 190w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"storify\" style=\"color: #555555;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;\"><strong style=\"font-style: inherit;\">Posts From InspiredToEducate.NET<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"color: #555555;\">\n<div style=\"font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;\">\n<ul style=\"font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: inherit; 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overflow:hidden; width:450px; height: 30px; align: left; margin: 2px 0px 2px 0px\"><\/iframe>\n<!-- Facebook Like Button END -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SparkMacon is a community innovation space equipped with the tools, equipment, and grass-roots education required to convert your idea into a reality. \u00a0\u00a0Think of it as a gym membership to exercise your creativity, hands and brain. \u00a0\u00a0Our community will serve artisans, technology creatives, and creative tinkers with access to tools [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4,14,11,3,8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1593"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1593"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1593\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1598,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1593\/revisions\/1598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}