Artisan’s Asylum (Somerville, MA, USA)

Artisan’s Asylum in Somerville, MA has the mission to promote and support the teaching, learning, and practicing of all varieties. Soumen Nandy is the Front Desk, General Volunteer, and Village Idiot of Artisan’s Asylum and she decided to tell us a little bit more about it.

Location	10 Tyler St Somerville, MA 02143
Members	400 active members
Website	artisansasylum.com

Tell us about your meeting space!

We have around 40,000 sq. ft. that includes more than 150 studio spaces ranging from 50 sq. ft. to 200+ sq. ft. Our storage includes: lockers, 2 x 2 x 2 rack space, 40″ x 44″ pallets (up to 10′ tall), flexspace and studios. We have a truck-loading dock and a rail stop — yup, entire trains can pull up to our back doors for delivery. Can any other Maker Space say that? We also host a large roster of formal training courses in practical technologies, trades, crafts and arts, to help our members and the general community learn skills, and increase their awesomeness. (And not incidentally: become certified to safely use our gear.)

What are you working with?

Fully equipped wood, metal, machine, robotics, electronics, jewelry/glass shops, 12 sewing stations,  computer lab with all major professional modeling, CNC, and simulation packages (via direct partnerships with the respective companies). Multiple types of 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, lathes, mills, etc. Too much more to list; if the Asylum doesn’t own/lease it, often a member, their business, or an institutional member can get it from you or get you access. And yet, it’s never enough.

Are there any tools your group really wants or needs?

Quite a few things, but it’s a delicate balance between sustainable operations, growth and space for member studios vs. facilities. We’ve spun off or attracted many companies, so the empty factory complex we moved into (until recently the worlds largest envelope factory) has almost completely filled up.

Does your group work with embedded tech (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, embedded security, MCU-based designs, etc.)?

Many of our members do. The group itself is too diverse to easily characterize.

What has your group been up to?

We’re not purely a technological space. We have artists, artisans, tradespesons, crafters, hobbyists, and technologists. I know of at least two-million dollar Kickstarters that launched from here. Hmmm… How about the 18-foot wide rideable-hexapod robot that’s nearing conclusion (we call it “Stompy“) or the 4′ x 8′ large format laser cutter that should be operational any day now? These are just some notably big projects, not necessarily our most awesome.

Oh, wait. we did an Ides of March Festival, dressing up Union Square as a Roman Forum.

What’s the craziest project your group or group members have completed?

Well, a few weeks ago, I went home at 10 PM, and woke to a tweeted photo announcing that this had been built in our social area; It’s actually not among our most surprising events, but it has reappeared several times since (fast dis/assembly), and a reporter caught it once. I just happened to receive this link a couple of hours ago, so it was handy to forward to you. We do a lot of art and participation projects around Boston.

What does Artisan’s social calendar look like these days?

Too many events to list! We’re really looking to stabilize our base, seek congruent funding donors (we are a non-profit, but thus far have mostly run on internally-earned income). I’d be happy to arrange an interview with one of our honchos if you like—the goings-ons around here are really too much to fit in one brain. Those of us who give tours actually regularly take each other’s tours to learn stuff about the place we never knew.

What would you like to say to fellow hackers out there?

Keep getting awesomer. We love you!

Also, any philanthropists out there? Our members and facilities could be an excellent way to multiply your awesome impact.

Keep up with Artisan’s Asylum! Check out their website!

Submit your Club/Organization