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Student Union Craft Centers

  • 1.  Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 07-22-2022 13:43

    Hello All,

    I work for the Arts & Crafts Center located in the Reitz Union at the University of Florida. We are a community art studio providing instruction on ceramics, metalsmithing, painting and various other mediums. We also run a paint-a-pot studio. I'm looking to connect with other craft centers located in student unions-there aren't many of us left! I'd like to share information and resources on programming arts and crafts events for students. In particular, I'm interested in the mix of paid services (i.e. paint-a-pot, classes, memberships) and free student programs. I'm also really interested in your assessment practices. Basically, I'd like to know how many of us are out there what kinds of things we are doing!

    Thanks so much,

    Mariana Baquero
    Arts Specialist
    Reitz Union Arts & Crafts Center
    mbaquero@ufl.edu
    union.ufl.edu/acc



    ------------------------------
    Mariana Baquero
    University of Florida
    Gainesville FL
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 07-25-2022 11:16
    I'd be interested in this conversation.  I'm at James Madison University.  We don't have a craft center but our craft events are very popular and its an area I want to grow.  I know Penn State University has a very successful Arts and Crafts Center run by Stephanie Gush.  I don't know if she follows ACUI posts.  I'd recommend reaching out to her.  Maybe a zoom conversation for all interested?

    Her email address is: seg130@psu.edu.

    Jen Grossman Leopard

    ------------------------------
    Jennifer Grossman Leopard
    Director, Student Life
    James Madison University
    Harrisonburg VA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 07-25-2022 12:52
    Hi Jen--a zoom call is a great idea! I've received some messages from others interested in a conversation. I'll put a participant list together and send an email out to see if we can schedule a call.

    ------------------------------
    Mariana Baquero
    University of Florida
    Gainesville FL
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 07-28-2022 11:55
    Hello Mariana-

    Norris University Center still has a vibrant arts program. I'm giving you a couple of names you can reach out to, as well as a link to some basic info: https://www.northwestern.edu/norris/arts-recreation/index.html

    Debra Blade - Norris Assistant Director
    d-blade@northwestern.edu
    847-491-2307

    Rachel "Ranch" Ward - Ceramic Technician
    rachel.ward1@northwestern.edu
    847-491-2344

    ------------------------------
    Corbin Smyth
    Director, Norris University Center
    University of Minnesota–Duluth
    Duluth MN
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 07-28-2022 13:39
    Hi Corbin--thanks so much! I will reach out to Debra and Rachel.

    ------------------------------
    Mariana Baquero
    Arts Specialist/Program Assistant
    University of Florida
    Gainesville FL
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 09-16-2022 13:41
    Hi Mariana,
    If we use arts & crafts spaces and makerspaces interchangeably we have quite a few members with those; we're looking for a news story for our Sept. 30 e-Bulletin so we can make an effort to pull some of this info for you and share with you through the article as well. Here are a few we've written about in recent years, and some we know about. Christine Preusler, our writer, will be checking in with some of them and she may want to reach out to some of you folks as well over the next week.

    Here are a few we have contacts for:
    Erb Union, Oregon
    UNC Chapel Hill student center
    Columbia College - Chicago (brand new)
    Anderson Student Center, U of St. Thomas (very active space)
    U Mass Amherst 

    Also, corporate member Shepley-Bulfinch has done frequent consulting on this topic with some of our members.

    Let us know if there are any of these you'd like to contact yourself and we'll provide the best contact for you.

    Have a great weekend!

    Steve

    ------------------------------
    Steve Chaplin
    Managing Editor - ACUI's The Bulletin
    Manager - College Union and Student Activities Evaluation Program (CUSA)
    ACUI
    Bloomington IN
    812.245.8075
    schaplin@acui.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 09-16-2022 14:17
    Hi Steve--this is incredibly helpful, thanks so much! Please send along any contact information you have. Feel free to pass along my contact information as well (mbaquero@ufl.edu or 352 392-2378). I'm putting together an educational session proposal for the National Conference in Boston next year on this topic, and I think including makerspaces would be a valuable addition to that conversation.

    Thanks again,

    Mariana

    ------------------------------
    Mariana Baquero
    Arts Specialist/Program Assistant
    University of Florida
    Gainesville FL
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 09-16-2022 14:37
    Always happy to help Mariana....

    Here are a few that we're pretty sure are all in unions. A number of makerspaces are popping up outside of unions as some are focusing more on entrepreneurship and less on student activities. But each of these folks should be able to help or point you in the direction. Also, Christine will be working on this story next week so she will likely pick up added information. And BTW, anything you learn about assessment tools related to these spaces, I would love to hear about as central office liaison for our Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Program Team!
    Here you go:
    Andy Dutil - Columbia College Chicago, 312-344-7524, adutil@colum.edu
    Erin Whipley, 651-962-6134, whipkey@stthomas.edu, U. of St. Thomas (student activities, I think)
    Alexandra Marchesandro, acmarche@email.unc.edu , (919) 966-3120, UNC Chapel Hill (director)
    Laurie Woodward, lauriew@uoregon.edu. Erb Union, Oregon
    Steve


    ------------------------------
    Steve Chaplin
    Managing Editor - ACUI's The Bulletin
    Manager - College Union and Student Activities Evaluation Program (CUSA)
    ACUI
    Bloomington IN
    812.245.8075
    schaplin@acui.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 09-19-2022 11:40
    We have a very active arts and crafts space in the Memorial Union at Iowa State called the Workspace (https://studentengagement.iastate.edu/arts-the-workspace).. I believe Mariana has already connected with the coordinator, Letitia Kenemer (letitia@iastate.edu), as I know they were engaging in some zoom community building. But if you need more content for you story either Letitia or I would be happy to connect with you! Letitia has been with the MU for 20 years and has lots of insight about these types of spaces!

    ------------------------------
    Kristine Heflin
    Associate Director, Memorial Union
    Iowa State University
    Ames IA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 09-19-2022 12:02
    Hi Kristine,
    Thanks for jumping in here; I was trying to recall last week. Weren't you the folks that were offering an arts-to-go sale or project during Covid that sounded really unique?
    Steve

    ------------------------------
    Steve Chaplin
    Managing Editor - ACUI's The Bulletin
    Manager - College Union and Student Activities Evaluation Program (CUSA)
    ACUI
    Bloomington IN
    812.245.8075
    schaplin@acui.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 09-19-2022 12:16
    Hi Steve--yes! We created a fairly robust to-go operation for our drop-in crafts and some of our paint your own pottery during COVID. Most of our full time Student Engagement staff were involved at some point doing deliveries around town! We no longer deliver but we do still have many of our crafts available as a to-go option which has continued to be popular for those who are still COVID-wary or don't have time to stay and craft as well as helping to ease the crowding in our somewhat small space. We also tried out a subscription box service during early COVID times but that didn't end up being a keeper for various reasons.

    ------------------------------
    Kristine Heflin
    Associate Director, Memorial Union
    Iowa State University
    Ames IA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Student Union Craft Centers

    Posted 09-19-2022 12:21
    Excellent...that is what I thought. This is an extremely shareable, transferable concept, so I hope others will be inspired to inquire. Thanks!

    ------------------------------
    Steve Chaplin
    Managing Editor - ACUI's The Bulletin
    Manager - College Union and Student Activities Evaluation Program (CUSA)
    ACUI
    Bloomington IN
    812.245.8075
    schaplin@acui.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message