PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Four organizations have joined forces to form the Department of Making + Doing (DMD), a collaborative space for curious Philadelphians to realize ground-breaking art and design that inspires, educates, excites, and encourages creative "making" in Philadelphia. DMD is celebrating its official launch with an open house on Saturday, May 11 at 3711 Market Street on the University City Science Center campus in Philadelphia. DMD is also celebrating a $100,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as part of the Knight Arts Challenge, which funds innovative projects that engage and enrich Philadelphia’s communities.
DMD’s partner organizations — Breadboard, The Hacktory, NextFab Studio and Public Workshop — are offering programming that will transform the street-level space at 3711 Market Street into a vibrant place of creative production and civic innovation, where participants are encouraged to use technology and scientific concepts to tackle creative challenges. The partners hope the space will produce hybrid projects and products that could shine equally well in an art exhibit, patent office, scientific conference or even a bus stop.
DMD will open its doors on Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 2 – 6 p.m. with a celebration and family-friendly activities highlighting the space.
“As a partnership and as a connector of the arts and technology communities, DMD exemplifies the type of collaboration and engagement that the Science Center wants to see more of it on its campus,” says Science Center President & CEO, Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D., MBA. “Through DMD’s activities and with the support of the Knight Foundation, new communities and generations will be introduced to the promise and potential of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math or STEAM.”
“Drawing from the strengths of each of our organizations, the DMD partnership combines and builds upon the existing programming and successes of the four partner organizations and allows us to increase our scope and reach,” says Georgia Guthrie, Director of The Hacktory.
DMD will make use of premises, tools, and equipment - including laser-cutters and 3D printers - contributed by NextFab Studio. “When NextFab outgrew its birthplace at the Science Center, I felt that our original location provided an excellent home for the STEAM-related programming Breadboard has developed with us,” explains NextFab President, Evan Malone. “I'm thrilled to be partnering with The Hacktory and Public Workshop, both pioneers of STEAM programming, who bring their own innovative approaches, expertise, and extended communities to these vital educational endeavors.”
“We believe that the future of great art, design, and civic innovation are inherently interconnected and multidisciplinary,” says Dan Schimmel, Director of Breadboard. “The most noticeable outcome of DMD’s success will be a space buzzing with creativity that will further energize Philly’s arts/maker community.”
The DMD Open House will showcase the tools, activities and programs offered through the DMD partnership. Family-friendly activities for all ages will include the creation of large-scale cardboard towers, laser cut or vinyl print-your-own key chain or bumper sticker, Japanese saw demos, silk screening t-shirts, bench-building projects designed to improve a public spaces in Philadelphia, and the opportunity to make light-up circuits from various materials. For more information or to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12j5UpOtJxLTjSy8C_GPXHusdC2jFU7xUz5J0l8RV5t0/viewform
“Our launch event will give a preview of what’s to come at DMD,” says Alex Gilliam, Founder of Public Workshop. “The space and the activities will highlight the best of what each of DMD’s partners has to offer.”
About the Science Center
The University City Science Center is a dynamic hub for innovation, and entrepreneurship and technology development in the Greater Philadelphia region. It provides business incubation, programming, lab and office facilities, and support services for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and growing and established companies. The Science Center was the first, and remains the largest, urban research park in the United States. Since it was founded in 1963, graduate organizations and current residents of the University City Science Center’s Port business incubators have created more than 15,000 jobs that remain in the Greater Philadelphia region today and contribute more than $9 billion to the regional economy annually.
Breadboard is a hybrid program at the Science Center that facilitates cross-disciplinary art exhibits, community outreach initiatives and special programs offering public access to a new generation of fabrication technology and workspace in an effort to empower individuals and convene communities around creative applications of technology. The Science Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013. For more information about the Science Center, go to www.sciencecenter.org.
About the Department of Making + Doing
The Department of Making + Doing (DMD) is building a collaborative space for curious Philadelphians to come together to realize ground-breaking art and design that inspires, educates, excites, and encourages creative “making” in Philadelphia. DMD’s partner organizations — Breadboard, The Hacktory, NextFab Studio and Public Workshop — will provide programming that will transform the space at 3711 Market St. into a vibrant place of creative production and civic innovation, where participants are encouraged to use technology and scientific concepts to tackle creative challenges. The DMD partners hope the space will produce hybrid projects and products that could shine equally in an art exhibition, patent office, scientific conference or even a bus stop. DMD is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as part of the Knight Arts Challenge, a $9 million initiative funding innovative projects that engage and enrich Philadelphia’s communities.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit KnightFoundation.org.
