New Flathead Valley nonprofit looks to create communal making place

The Making Place, a newly formed nonprofit in Flathead Valley, is striving to create a community makerspace for artists, makers and creators of all kinds.   

“We want to be as all-inclusive and accessible as possible so that anyone who wants to make something can be included. Whether they want to make something casually and hang out with other people, or if someone is making things to start a professional business,” said Justin Barry, one of the group’s organizers.  

“Artist can feel selective. But maker? It’s inclusive. We welcome and want to help all levels of making experience,” Barry said.   

After spending much of the last year hosting workshops, classes and events, the group is now focused on fundraising to make a physical location a reality.   

The vision is to have a multi-purpose, communal art studio in a location that is accessible to everyone around the valley, and to equip it with a tool library.   

The Making Place – as an organization and physical location – will then serve as a place to not just create, but to connect with others, and to host classes and programs.  

It’s expensive to have a personal space, Barry said not to mention the tools and other resources it takes to create.  

“People could come check out a tool that they don’t have themselves. They could use it at their house or at The Making Place, too,” Barry said.   

The group’s focus on community engagement was a highlight of their recent event, the Harvest Moon Festival, which took place Oct. 12 at the Harvest Moon Homestead located between Columbia Falls and Kalispell. The free, family-friendly event invited people to not just gather for an arts market but to participate and learn.  

“The activities were really busy – people came wanting to do, create, share and learn skills,” Barry said.   

On scene, people were painting, spinning pottery, sand pouring, blacksmithing, printmaking, pressing apples into cider, serving up doughnuts, playing live music, dying bandanas, building communal canvasses, and selling handmade jewelry and clothes, to name just a few. Several artists were giving live demonstrations or co-creating with participants.  

“That’s part of it – if other people see how someone else makes their things, it makes it more accessible, and it forms a connection to that artist,” Barry said.   

Berry recalled an interior designer who “loved the philosophy and technique” of a sand pouring demonstration, “something completely different from their practice." Barry said she left the event wanting to bring that into her own creations.   

Among the makers coming together so far, there have been many volunteers, as well as a team of seven board members making it happen. Each board member has brought their own skills to the team, with Sienna Broglie managing communications, Tarek Penser scheduling art markets, Allie Maloney supporting operations, Brooke Myhre facilitating inventory, Ellen Mering working on strategic planning, Justin Barry organizing the community, and Lena Olson offering classes – to name just a few of the shared tasks.  

However, from property to equipment, to hosting more workshops, The Making Place hopes to grow to make the goal a reality. Anyone can get involved, volunteer to share skills, or donate resources. Visit themakingplacemt.com to sign up for an email list.