The value of a makerspace: cultural (re-)production and the making of a city

Abstract

Coming to prominence in the early 2000s, makerspaces have become a popular strategy for community development, neighborhood vitalization and education initiatives. However, challenges in defining and communicating the value of makerspaces limit their inclusion in policy and community development initiatives. This article fuses approaches from urban design, planning and cultural anthropology to outline a novel approach to understanding the value of a makerspace. We argue that makerspaces can help to (re)produce the unique culture and character of their host communities. This study surveyed 43 makerspaces in the Northeast of the United States, identifying four broad typologies categorizing how makerspaces relate to their socio-material contexts. We look to these typologies to identify commonalities and differences in the ways that makerspaces contribute to and are shaped by their host communities. Our study offers a community-centered approach to valorizing makerspaces. These findings have implications for future policy, social investment and community development initiatives.