Decatur Makers

Decatur Makers is the only all-ages community makerspace in Georgia

Our diverse community is made up of makers from 5 to 105 years old including artists, designers, fabricators, welders, woodworkers, engineers, textile workers, programmers, 3D printing professionals, crafters, teachers, students, entrepreneurs, and others. Our community has hobbyists as well as professionals learning and building all kinds of cool projects. Our goal has always been to foster a place where all makers feel welcomed and accepted regardless of background, race, gender, lifestyle, skill sets, experience, or age. We strive to include all makers around Atlanta by keeping our membership dues low, providing needs-based scholarships, and offering most of our programs to the public.

Located in downtown Decatur, our 2,500 square foot makerspace has a woodshop, electronics shop, biolab, textiles area, arts and crafts, 3D printers, laser cutters, metalworking, and more under one roof. Our programs include membership to our space, classes that are open to the public, free community gatherings for youth and adults, youth STEAM outreach and teacher professional development, and solving problems with the help of our community expertise to build solutions for our community partners.

Our Motto: Build, Share, Explore

Think of our makerspace as a playground for your imagination where we create opportunities for lifelong learning – it’s where people of all ages come together for the purpose of encouraging kids and adults from all different backgrounds to learn new skills, realize their passions, and feel empowered. This idea of developing confidence and agency (by making lots of mistakes and learning from them!) is central to all that we do.

Through our community expertise, tools & equipment, classes, and youth outreach, we encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to build things with their hands and minds, share their knowledge and creative energy, and explore new ideas and opportunities to be innovative.

What We’ve Accomplished

Since our community first banded together in 2012, our membership has grown to almost 400 paying members. Over these past 7 years, we’ve hosted thousands of makers in our classes and free community workshops, and thousands of kids in our outreach programs. Our community partnerships have included hundreds of businesses and organizations across Georgia.

FAQs

Q What is Decatur Makers?

Decatur Makers is a membership-based makerspace in downtown Decatur, GA that welcomes a diverse group of makers of all ages, all skill sets, and supports a broad variety of interests from woodworking to welding, and electronics to embroidery. Join us to find your passion, further develop your skills, or support your small business idea!

Q What Equipment do you Have?

We have several broad areas including a wood shop, electronics shop, metal shop, textiles area, laser area, arts & crafts, and 3D printing. We have a growing list of equipment and tools including a SawStop table saw, 25” Woodmaster planer, jointer, band saw, drill presses, router table, 42”x52” Joe’s CNC milling machine, Glowforge Pro laser cutter and engraver, Thunder Nova 35 laser cutter, several 3D printers including resin-based printing, HAM radio gear, soldering workstations, oscilloscopes, AC and DC power supplies, MIG and TIG welders, metal lathe, metal band saw, gel electrophoresis, thermocycler, incubator, silk screens, and lots and lots of materials: scrap wood, metal, electronics components (too many to count!).

Q Who Do You Admit?

All makers are welcome at Decatur Makers. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. We are committed to providing a welcoming, supportive environment for all members of our community. We are a supportive, wonderfully diverse group – just click the join button. We do run a low-level criminal background check, which is covered as part of your membership.

Q What are your age requirements?

We welcome makers of all ages, and kids as young as 11 years old can become members! Kids under 14 must have a supervising adult (not Decatur Makers staff) with them at all times. Kids 14-17 may be in the space alone with a caregiver’s permission. Young kids might enjoy our Family Build Nights – the last Wednesday of each month from 5 to 7 pm.