Tools For Change Residency

Overview & Purpose

At MakerLabs we believe that sharing space, tools, and skills are fundamental aspects of maker culture. The Tools For Change residency focuses on empowering self-identified women and non-binary people to use the tools at MakerLabs in a comfortable and supportive environment to make almost anything.

The first month of the residency is dedicated to learning to use the tools we have available here and start working on personal projects, and the second month you act as a mentor and continue to work on personal projects. Whether you are a seasoned maker or you are at the beginning of your making journey, this program works to support women and gender diverse people making and designing at MakerLabs.

We would like to thank our sponsor, Rust-oleum, for their generous support of sponsoring a studio space and donating products to our residents. 


Included in residency

*Elective class can be chosen from MakerLabs’ Safety & Orientation classes. For those choosing to take Ceramics 102, MIG Welding & Metal Fabrication 101, TIG Welding 101, Metal Lathe 101, or CNC Metal Milling 101, as their elective, they will receive $100 credit towards these classes, and the remaining balance must be paid for by the residents.

Duration

2 months

Cost of residency

$600 + tax + any additional material residents may use.

Residency commitment

This residency is subsidized and includes free classes, early access to the building, and support, for the cost of a regular membership.  In return we require the following from our residents:

Residents must be at MakerLabs a minimum of 15 hours a week to be committed to the program. This includes class time, time spent meeting with mentors / mentees, and time spent working on projects.

Residents must be at MakerLabs for all classes on Monday evenings from 6pm to 9pm or 10pm during the first month. Class lengths vary depending on the class. All other hours are flexible but we encourage working in groups and meeting up with your mentor / mentee on a weekly basis.

Residents must document their experiences and work completed during the residency. This includes posting on the Tools for Change Instagram account at least once a week.  We also require three posts on our blog over the duration of the residency (one introductory post, one mid-way through post, and one post upon completion of the program).

Residents must plan and attend the monthly Tools for Change Showcase. This event occurs on the last Wednesday of each month, and is a chance for residents to show off their work, celebrate their achievements in the residency, and inspire others. This event can take whatever form the current residents desire (a barbeque, a Q&A, an open mic sharing space, a gallery display night, etc). Residents will have the support of MakerLabs staff in planning this event, but are responsible for planning and promoting their celebration. Residents will receive a budget of $5 per registered participant to purchase food and beverages for their event.

Project legacy

All intellectual property will remain in possession of the resident(s).

Anything built here is the property of the resident.

Any documentation can be shared by MakerLabs through our website/social media etc.

For Residents

Expectations

Throughout you have access to the Tools for Change Wordpress & Instagram account. We want one Instagram post per week (at least), and you are encouraged to post much more if you want to. You are welcome to post to your personal accounts as well - just invite the official Tools For Change Residency account as a collaborator so it shows up on both accounts. Here's a tutorial on how to do that.  (Note: this may not work if your account is private.)

We require three blog posts.  One Introductory post, one after your first month, and one at the end of the residency.

You should be able to attend all  classes in the first month and are available to mentor for all of the second month. If you can't commit enough time to the program, please let us know and we can try to reschedule you for a later month.

Inter/Intra Cohort Communication

Join the Slack Workspace for Tools for Change. You can message each other and there will be a channel for each cohort. Please communicate regularly on Slack, so we can see that you are actively participating in the program. You are also free to exchange phone numbers with each other.

Schedule


Pre-TFC

Week 1

WoodLab 101 - Part One

Homework:

Plan out a small project that should take ~2 hours. Consult with mentor / support staff on how to execute your project, what materials and tools you should be using. Gather your materials in preparation to begin your project for the following week. Practice using the tools that were covered in Part 1 of the class on scrap materials to get comfortable with them. 

Project Ideas: card holder, penholder, shelf, stand, shoerack, spice rack, frame. https://www.thesawguy.com/woodworking-projects-for-beginners/

Suggested Instagram Post: Project plans or photos of results from tool practice

Week 2

WoodLab 101 - Part Two

Homework:

Work on a small project that should take ~2 hours.

Examples: card holder, penholder, shelf, stand, shoerack, spice rack, frame. https://www.thesawguy.com/woodworking-projects-for-beginners/

Suggested Instagram Post: Works in progress and / or finished WoodLab Projects 

Week 3

LaserLab 101

Homework:

Book laser time within the week after you've taken the class. 

Project Examples: Coasters, Jewelry, Notebook Covers, Nametags

Box Generator: https://en.makercase.com, https://www.festi.info/boxes.py/

Puzzle Generator: https://cdn.rawgit.com/Draradech/35d36347312ca6d0887aa7d55f366e30/raw/b04cf9cd63a59571910cb226226ce2b3ed46af46/jigsaw.html

Free Vectors: www.freepik.com

More Free Vectors: https://www.ponoko.com/free-laser-cutting-files-templates

Tools For Change resident Bek created an amazing introductory tutorial to vectors! This is a really great resource for getting you started with your Laser Cutting projects. You can view the slides here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I3lCur2A_f3-Vd1WQ3V0vDUkU6rDYlXJ/view?usp=sharing 

Suggested Instagram Post: Completed Cubby tags from the laser lab class, any works in progress or finished Laser Cutting projects.

Week 4

CNC Router 101

Homework:

Use the CNC and use 30 minute consult during the week. Get together as a group to help each other set up your project files.

Example projects: plant holder, box, cutting board, jewelry tray, door stop, stands.

See https://www.thingiverse.com/ and search for "cnc/laser" for more ideas and files.

Shopbot also has free project files and resources on their website: https://www.shopbottools.com/explore/projects 

Suggested Instagram Post: Boxes from CNC class, any works in progress or finished CNC Router projects.

Week 5

Homework:

Meet the new residents & have a Mentee assigned. Plan to meet with your mentee this week.

Discuss how you want to run the meetup, eg. format, who talks, who to invite, theme, divide tasks/labour, MC. Meet with your cohort to plan this event.

Write a blog post about your projects and what you have learned so far.

Suggested Instagram Post: Post about your specialization/favourite class or tool. Pictures using that tool. (include tag: toolsforchange)

Week 6

Homework:

Set a time and meet with your mentee this week. Give them project ideas to use their new skills.

Have social media content finished and posted for the Tools for Change Showcase.

Suggested Instagram Post: Reflect on the progress of your goals, or a project you are working on

Week 7

Homework:

Meet with your mentee again this week. Check in and see if there's any area they need extra help in.

Create and post second round social media content for the Tools for Change Showcase.

Final planning for the Tools for Change Showcase with your cohort.

Suggested Instagram Post: Any other works in progress or completed projects that you done over the residency.

Week 8

Homework:

Run the Showcase (Showcase what you worked on and what you plan to do after the residency is over) 

Fill out TFC final survey, clear out your storage space.

Write final blog post about your experiences, completed projects, and lessons learned.

Suggested Instagram Post: Completed projects

Common Instagram Hashtags

#toolsforchange #womensresidency #artistresidency #makerlabs #makerlabsvancouver #makersgonnamake #vancouverart #vancouverartist #learnsomethingnew #makersvillage #makersmovement #vancouvermaker #vancouvermakers #handmade #handmadevancouver #supporthandmade

#lasercut #lasercutter #lasercuter #laser #cnc #cncrouter #shopbot #metalwork #metalshop #metalart #woodworking #woodwork #womeninwood #womenwoodworking 

Blog Templates

Tools for Change - Blog Post Suggestions and Ideas

As part of your Tools for Change residency, we ask you to publish three posts on our blog (at

the beginning, mid-point, and end of your experience). Below are some ideas and examples for

you to take a look at, which will hopefully get you inspired when writing your posts. Please

don’t hesitate to contact the program facilitators if you have any questions or concerns!

General Note:

The web URL of the blog is https://www.makerlabs.com/blog and the login information will

have been provided to you along with all other residency intro info! I strongly suggest scrolling

through the past blog posts not only to get idea for your own, but for project inspiration and

general residency tips and tricks. There is a wealth of creative knowledge there! I have also

mentioned a couple specific posts that I believe provide a good basis for your various required

posts, but feel free to mix and match as you see fit.

Introduction Post

Due: Within the first week of residency

Strong examples: Greta Burley, Carly Mucha, Corrina Hammond

Content Ideas:

• Basic Intro

• Name, cohort month, how you came to join the program, and a bit about yourself.

• Introduction to your creative practice/Motivation for the program

• Are you a practicing artist? Are you a creative person who has yet to make things? What

has inspired you to take part in the Tools for Change program?

• Examples of your work, if you have them

• What are your goals for the program?

*** Carly created an excellent Q&A format for her post, which you are free to use and modify if

you find yourself a little stuck. It is an excellent stepping-off point!


Mid-Residency Update

Due: Within a week of final class

Strong examples: Tierney Milne, June, a month of firsts, Laser Cut Daisy Earrings

Content Ideas:

• Reflections on classes (WoodLab, LaserLab, CNC, MetalLab)

• What projects have you started/completed?

• Challenges, new learning opportunities, successes

• Have you made any new discoveries during the program?

• How has the program affected your practice so far?

• What are your plans or goals for the second month?

OR

The Laser Cut Daisy Earrings post is an excellent example of a tutorial style post! If you have

made a smallish project that you would like to share in this way, it would be a great midresidency

update. If you choose this style, please include lots of step-by-step photos and

share it to the Tools for Change Instagram account when you’re done.


Final Thoughts

Due: Within one week of final meetup

Strong examples: Kaho, Here We Go, Lamp Fabrication (Corrina)

Content Ideas:

• Overview of the work you have completed in the program

• Final thoughts about skills learned, working with your cohort, community at MakerLabs

• Reflections on planning and executing the meetup

• Has the program changed what you plan to do with your creative practice in the future?

• Will you be staying on at MakerLabs as a member? Why?