ENSURING A DIVERSE RANGE OF MAKERS

ENSURING A DIVERSE RANGE OF MAKERS
One of the most surprising, stimulating and identifiable traits about Maker Faire is the
diversity of topics one might encounter there. Makers come from the worlds of craft,
engineering, robotics, arts, education, ecology, gaming and more.
Maker outreach will likely challenge your team to look far and deep into the nooks and
crannies of your community. Look at Maker Faire’s tables below on the kinds of subjects
covered; you can use it to drive your search and recognize what and who you might be
missing.
Arts
AIA Local Chapters
Art Cars
Art Museums
Blacksmithing
Burning Man
Comic Groups
Filmmaking
Fiber Artists
Fire Arts
Holyographic Groups
Jewelry Making
Kinetic Art Groups
LEGO Users Groups
Metal Arts
Neon Art
Painting
Photography Groups
Pinball Groups
Recycled Arts
Steampunk
The Long Now Foundation
Yoyo Clubs
Crafts
Engineering
4H Groups
Bazaar Bizarre
Bobbin Lace Makers Guild
Book Making and Binding
Boy Scouts
Card Making
Ceramics & Pottery
Children’s After School Programs
Clothing Making
Craftster
Crocheting
Doll Making
Embroidery (groups, associations)
Etsy
Felting
Fiber Arts Groups
Folk Art
Girl Scouts
Glass Blowers
Jewelry Making
Journal Making
Knitting
3D Printers
Amateur Aviation Groups
Amateur Radio Groups
Amateur Rocketry Groups
American Engineering Assoc.
Arduino Groups
ArtBot Groups
ASME
Bicycle Groups
CAPITAL Best Robotics
Car Repair Groups
Catapult Groups
Circuit Bending
CNC Groups
Combot Robots
Computer Modders
Computer User Groups
DIY Drones
DIY Energy
DIY Radio Groups
Electric Cars
Engineers Without Borders
Lacemaking
Fab Labs
Model Makers
FIRST Robotics
Audubon & Bird Groups
Beekeeping
Moldmaking
Mosaics
Museums of Craft and Folk Arts
Hackers Groups
IEEE
Insect Bots
Beer Brewing
Cake Making
Cheese Making
Chocolate Making
Citizen Science
Composting
Cooking Classes
Culinary Programs
Edible Schoolyards
Edible Communities
Farmers Markets
Homegrown.org
Local Foragers
Master Gardeners
Open Source Embroidery
Origami
Painting
Quilters
Renegade Crafts Fair
Scrapbooking
Sewing
Silk Screening Groups
Smart Materials
Soapmaking
Swap-O-Rama-Rama
The National Needle Arts (TNNA)
Weavers and Spinners
Woodworking
Intel Computer Clubhouse Network
Kids and Technology Groups
LED Art
MIDI User Groups
Model Railroad Clubs
Odyssey of the Mind
R/C Model Clubs
Repair Groups
Rube Goldberg Groups
Soapbox Derby
Solar Cars
Tech Shop
Underwater Robotics
WALL-E Builders
Food/Sustainability
Mini Maker Faire Playbook, 10 Jan12
Maker Media, Inc.
31
Molecular Gastronomy
Mycology
YMCA
YWCA
Women In Engineering Groups
HAM Radio Operators
Permaculture
Preserving
Seed Saver Libraries
Slow Food
Vegetarian Groups
Wine Making
Youth Programs - Urban Roots
Music
Circuit Bending
Dance Groups
Electronic Music/Theremin
Instrument Hacking
Instrument Making
Jug Bands
Marching Band
Music Classes
Taiko Drummers
Green
Science
Calcars.org
Co-Housing
Community Bike Groups
Composting
Eco Modding
Adult Education/Community Colleges
Astronomy Clubs
Chemistry
Children’s Museums
Computer Museums
Environmental Kids Groups
DIY Biology
Fix Your Bike Groups
DIY Energy
Green Arts Groups
Green Cleaning
Hybrid Car Groups
PARK(ing) Day
Recycling Groups
Solar Groups
Solar Ovens
Treehugger
Water Groups
Wind Power
DIY Forensics
DIY Science
Dorkbot
Exploratorium
Kite Making and Flying
Paper Airplane Making
Robots
Rocketry Groups
Science Museums
Science Workshops
Theater Groups
Space Exploration
Other
Teachers Resource/Support Groups
Board Games
Telescope Makers
Chess Groups
Tesla Coils
Computer Gaming
University Programs
Halloween
Zoology Groups
Hula Hoops
Juggling
Meetups
School Groups
Star Wars Clubs
Wax Sculptures
Specialty Schools/Education
Our committee found itself spending quite a bit of time on the “human networking” task,
looking for holes in the breadth of types of makers who had applied, and making calls and
sending emails to specific groups and individuals. This is one of those questions of scale,
and how much energy and time the organizing team has to spend. But any Maker Faire
should express the breadth of interests captured in the maker spirit, so do your best to
represent a wide range of kinds of making at your event.
Mini Maker Faire Playbook, 10 Jan12
Maker Media, Inc.
32