Creative Force
Madjax Helps to Facilitate Community and Creativity
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Located near downtown Muncie, Madjax was named for the intersection of Madison and Jackson streets.
Madjax was developed as a Maker Force, intersecting the innovation of the maker movement with support for the emerging workforce, says Allison Robbins, president of the Sustainable Muncie board of directors. The original goal was to redevelop an abandoned building at the heart of the city into a vibrant maker community with spaces for learning, skill exploration and entrepreneurship.
Madjax provides a variety of opportunities ranging from workshops to leasing opportunities. There are two different membership opportunities including the Co:Lab and the Design Lab.
The Co:Lab is part of the Indiana Coworking Passport and provides drop-in desks, working hubs, private offices, conference rooms, and all the amenities of a typical office in a brightly lit, open-concept space, Robbins says.
The Co:Lab memberships start at $50 per month, while Design Lab memberships begin at $25 a month, and they provide a variety of equipment and tools for individuals to use.
We provide access to a wide variety of equipment and fabrication tools including 3D printers, laser cutters, sublimation printer and heat press, large-format vinyl cutter, embroidery machine, Wacom drawing tablet and more, Robbins says.
The Design Lab has been relocated to the first floor of Madjax for better accessibility for those who wish to use the lab. With the relocation, Madjax leaders are also planning to expand membership offerings later this year to include large-scale fabrication space and access to woodworking and metalworking tools.
Our workshops are run a bit differently than other organizations, Robbins says. Through our Maker in Residence and Educator in Residence initiatives, professional makers, artists and teachers participate in a yearlong fellowship leading seasonal workshops and projects within our maker community. The workshops taught in each session will continue to be dynamic in nature, with new opportunities offered in each series based on the strengths, talents and interests of the current makers and educators in residence. One of the benefits of the fellowships is a membership to the Madjax Design Lab, where members can access a wide variety of tools and resources to continue learning new techniques and applying skills both personally and professionally.
Madjax is open to the city and community of Muncie. Those who wish to get started can simply join one of the workshops or many activities they have to offer. There are many different activities and groups that can be found through Madjax.
One of the best ways for people to get involved is to bring a friend or family member and participate in a workshop or activity together, Robbins says. It is truly the people in our maker community that make this space so vibrant. On any given day you could throw axes at Mad Axe, grab a pizza at Guardian Brewery, exercise with Aerial Annex, support the makers at Beyond I CAN, attend a meeting at the Co:Lab, be immersed in an interactive exhibit created by Ball State students, learn a new skill in a Madjax workshop, or bring your own idea to life in the Madjax Design Lab.
To learn more about Madjax or sign up for their monthly newsletter, visit madjax.org, or visit their Facebook and Instagram pages @MadjaxMuncie.
