The Making Place, a nonprofit collective of artists, craftsmen and designers is expanding its presence in Columbia Falls with plans to lease the entire third floor of the Uptown Hearth building.

The 501 (c) 3 nonprofit started up a couple of years ago as a way for practicing artists and craftsmen and creators to collaborate and hone their skills, rather than each person having to go it alone.

They are doing a series of events this spring in Columbia Falls to spread the word about the nonprofit opening a community makerspace early this summer. 

The idea is to have studios, shared tools, and simply a place to bounce ideas off each other at Uptown Hearth, founding member and president Justin Barry said last week.

Barry is a mechanical engineer by trade, but came to Montana a few years ago to work with the Montana Conservation Corps. He then developed his craft into a business making things like a wallet that’s made from old ski skins, or bicycle bags from “upcycled” as opposed to recycled, materials.

The wallet, for example, has a cool device that opens and closes it.

After talking with other artists and craftsmen across the Flathead, “we saw a need for a shared studio space,” he said.

The nonprofit is all volunteers and is hosting several workshops and events this spring and summer.

For example, on Saturday, March 22 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. they be having an event where people can learn collage, cross stitch or the art of block print making at the studio at Uptown Hearth.

Cost is $15 per experience.

On March 25, it’s hosting a free craft night at the Whitefish Community Center from 7 to 11 p.m. on East Second Street and then on April 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Uptown Hearth  Kay Lyle will host a workshop on letterpress printing, where participants can make small posters by using vintage wood type and ink. The cost of that session is $30.

Most of the events are also appropriate for entire families.

They also plan on hosting future artist and craftsmen talks and will launch a membership program in April. 

In addition, the plan is to have tool and equipment rentals. For example, one studio might have a camera and other gear so artists can photograph their work, another might have hand tools so a person can work on a project at the studio.

The hope is to raise $35,000 this year toward the Uptown Hearth space. For more information on the Making Place, visit https://www.themakingplacemt.com/