Maker Faire Goes to the White House, and We’ve Got Front Row Seats!
Today, the White House is hosting their first ever Maker Faire! How awesome is that? It’s so exciting that our country’s leaders are recognizing makers with a day at our nation’s capital, and I’m very honored to be attending today’s event in Washington D.C.
The faire will bring together a very small group (~100) of makers, innovators and entrepreneurs of all ages from all parts of the US who are using cutting-edge tools and technologies to bring their ideas to life. If you’ve been following Brit + Co for awhile now, you know we’re big proponents of this very same thing (and love watching so many of YOU bring your ideas to life, too!).
President Obama will also be attendance, and I can’t wait to hear what he has to say about makers, the maker movement and what it means to make. Just yesterday, he issued this statement, which totally rings true with us:
#NationofMakers
right here on the White House website! And if you’re online at 11am PST, tune in to my Google+ Autodesk Hangout with Andrew Rutter, founder of Type A Machines, and Francis Bitonti, a fashion designer who incorporates 3D printing in his work.
But wait, there’s more. We’re celebrating this nationwide Day of Making by giving all of you a 20% discount on Brit + Co. e-classes and kits. No time like the present to learn calligraphy, learn how to arrange flowers, or set up a girls’ night for making custom totes, necklaces or candles. The possibilities for making are truly limitless!
Second, we’re also announcing a series of programs that will support the maker movement throughout the year — because creativity shouldn’t be limited to just one day! Programs include:
Brit + Co Campus Ambassadors: We can’t wait to connect with college students all over the US — more details on this program soon!
Yearly Makeathon: Are you signed up for Re:Make San Francisco yet? Mark your calendars for September because our annual event just got even better! We’ll be hosting a Makeathon unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Brit + Co Makers in Residence: You’ve heard all about Brit + Co SF next door to Brit HQ. Well, now we’re opening up that space with a new program designed to give makers free co-working space and access to machines and DIY tools. Check back soon for more details.
Free E-classes for Students: We want to help the next generation of makers learn new skills like 3D printing, graphic design and electronics at an early age. We’ll be introducing a series of e-classes that will be free for teachers to use in the classroom, or as an after school program. Just like our e-classes now, we’ll be pairing these with kits to provide hands-on learning.
Each of these programs will kick off later this year and we’ll be sharing more details on how you can get involved with each one. In the meantime, be sure to follow along with us as we cover all things related to the White House Maker Faire this week!
