The East Gippsland MakerSpace (www.egmakerspace.com) is a local, community based workshop located in East Gippsland, Victoria. This region includes some world class artistic talent. Talent which desperately needs a community window.

Our aim is to provide cheap access to ideas, tools, training and resources that will enable egMakerSpace community members to learn practical skills and explore art, technology and creativity alongside already successful practising artists. We aim to encourage membership ranging from the local community to people who have already made successful art. To do this, we aim to provide tools and equipment of a varied nature, together in one place This will allow people to have access to equipment that would usually be beyond the reach of community members and struggling artists.

We have leased a wing of an old, disused hospital in Bairnsdale; approximately 400 square metres of space. It will be divided up as needed into various workshops for art, photography, metal and wood work, handcrafts, gardening / bonsai, cooking / culinary art, electronics / practical science and computing / robotics.

Other areas of the space will be dedicated either to individual collaborative projects as needed or other community groups who wish to do something different. So far, members have donated or funded a variety of equipment for the space including; woodworking and metalworking equipment, hand tools, computer equipment, sewing machines, printers, welding equipment and cooking utensils. We have also had some assistance from local hardware suppliers.

Whilst we aim to be self-funded we have hit a significant roadblock complying with regulations. Being an old hospital the fire suppression systems are very out of date, there is no security system nor lockable cupboards and we have a LOT of health and safety documentation to be prepared for each piece of equipment.

That’s where we need your help!

We’re aiming to raise $3000 towards getting the MakerSpace open & complying with all of the local, state and federal regulations. A small team has been working on this for 5 months now and we have failed at this stage to secure any local funding due to the only suitable space we could find having to be rented, as opposed to being government owned.

We think the MakerSpace will make a huge difference to our community. Local and regional kids can attend planned workshops during their holidays and the entire local community will gain access to a thriving artistic / creative space full of people who are keen to share their skills and ideas!

The MakerSpace is incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act. The group is run by an elected committee of Makers and operates on a not for profit basis. In order to get up and running two founding members have kindly loaned the first years rent to the group on an interest free basis. We use online forums, our website and regular BBQ meetings to keep in touch with members and plan our upcoming strategies. Please feel free to help us to drive a creative revolution in country Victoria. Any donation no matter how small will go a long way towards revitalising this region!