Making Space: Accelerating the Makerspace Movement

While the mission statement of any given makerspaces can differ, a central theme is
community engagement. Developing consistent community involvement is a complex task;
however, by ‘organizing with the organized’ resilient co-operative partnerships can be created.
The sponsorship or adoption of community spaces, by one or more large organizations (i.e.
academia, industry, government, multilateral organizations, and NGOs), presents unique capital
opportunities. Furthermore, the collaboration between individuals from respective
organizations may be the critical benefit: serving as fodder for technological and social
improvement. Ultimately, the utilization of these shared-spaces develops communal and
interagency ties. These relationships yield benefits which can far surpass the scope of any
singular mission statement.
The continued relational growth between AFRL, UNM, and the Fuse makerspace is
illustrative to these benefits. Initiatives such as the mobile makerspace, agile manufacturing
facility, and subsidized memberships are significantly increasing community access. These
initiatives demonstrate the importance of organizational collaboration and the power of
individuals sharing ideas.