About

The Brown Street Maker Cooperative is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing its members with the space, materials, and tools to engage in a wide variety of crafts and sustainability projects.

Members share their skills and knowledge, support one another's projects, and work together to keep the Co-op running. The Co-op also connects with the broader community through classes, workshops, events, and other programs developed and led by Co-op members.

The Co-op is a member-based organization where people contribute their time, skills, and ideas to help build and sustain a creative community.

Members have access to classes, open studio sessions, equipment, and other opportunities to learn and make. Programming will continue to evolve based on members' skills and the interests and needs of the broader community. Some classes and events are also open to non-members.

The Brown Street Maker Co-op opened in 2026 in the former Brown Street Market building at the corner of Brown Street and Newton Street.

The building was originally constructed in 1921 and underwent an extensive interior renovation to create the Co-op. No major exterior changes were made, with the exception of converting a window on Newton Street into an entryway to improve accessibility.

Anyone age 18 or older can apply to join the Co-op.

Members apply through a brief application process managed via the Brown Street Maker Co-op website.

We currently have over 300 members and have paused applications for new members as we continue building capacity. You can register your interest to be notified when applications reopen, which we expect to happen in early 2027.

Please note: We are still considering membership applications from potential instructors and for high-need roles, such as coordinator positions. If you are interested in these opportunities, please apply or submit a class proposal, or send a message to info@brownstreetmakercoop.org.

Every adult in a household must individually apply for their own Co-op membership. Children under 18 may be included in their parent or guardian's membership and are not required to complete work hours.

Please note that if you enroll a child in a class, the adult must also sign up with a separate spot.

No. The Co-op does not charge a membership fee.

The Co-op is supported through the volunteer contributions of its members, as well as donations and grants. To help sustain a no-cost membership model, members are asked to contribute three work hours each month.

In addition to the work commitment, members may choose to make a suggested donation to help cover the cost of class materials and other Co-op expenses.

Currently, orientation sessions are limited to members who can take on a high-need role or instructor role. You can apply for one of these roles on the Work Opportunities page.

When the Co-op opened in August 2026, it launched with an initial set of classes and activities. Programming will continue to grow and evolve based on feedback from members and the community.

A selection of current and planned offerings include:

• Laser cutting and engraving
• Hand-building pottery
• Drawing, painting, and printmaking
• Jewelry making
• Sewing, knitting, crochet
• Crafting
• 3D printing
• Fix-it clinics

Classes provide an opportunity to learn a new skill, develop an existing skill, or apply a skill toward a specific project or objective.

Events bring members together to work collaboratively toward a shared community objective or project.

Open studios provide members with time and space to work on their own projects within a particular crafting area in a less structured environment.

Studio time is when the Co-op is open and available to members to use the space for personal projects.

You can sign up for all classes, open studio sessions, and events on our Events page. Active members who have completed orientation will be able to register first for classes. Classes that are not full a week in advance will be open to pending members (those who have not completed orientation). Starting in December, members who have met work credit obligations get first access to the calendar.

Members are limited to two class registrations per month. If a class is not full a week in advance, it will become open to pending members and active members who wish to take an additional class. Open studios are not included in the two-class limit.

If you can't make it to a class or open studio, please cancel your registration as soon as possible to allow others to attend. You can cancel by going to the individual class page and clicking "Cancel Registration."

Yes. You can sign up to be on the waitlist for any class that is full. If a spot opens up, members will be contacted in the order they signed up and given the opportunity to enroll.

While most classes are open only to Co-op members, select classes are open to the public, including some Bike Fix-It, linocut printmaking, and ceramics classes. Information about classes that are open to the public will be provided on the event page.

Because the Co-op contains tools and equipment that may not be appropriate for all ages, instructors may set a minimum age for participation. Check class descriptions for age requirements. We require all minors to be accompanied by an adult member in classes, and the adult must also be registered for the class. Children five and under are permitted only for special activities specifically designed to accommodate them.

Yes, members can work on their own projects during open studios, which offer a specific time and space for members to work on projects within a particular crafting area in a less structured environment.

The Co-op is also planning to offer studio time, when the studio is open to members to use the space. Studio time is dependent on staffing. Please check the calendar for available open studios and studio time.

The Co-op is staffed by members, so hours of operation depend on member availability.

As membership grows, our goal is to have the Co-op open seven days a week. Members should check the website for current hours and availability.

There is limited street parking in the surrounding neighborhood on Newton and Brown streets. The Co-op is close to public transportation, including bus routes along 16th street and the Columbia Heights metro station.

At this time, our building space is limited to use for Co-op classes and events. However, if you are interested in partnering with us, please reach out at info@brownstreetmakercoop.org.

The Co-op has a growing collection of equipment, tools, and materials, including:

• Laser cutters and engravers
• 3D printers
• Sewing machines
• Kiln
• Art stations
• Laptops for computer-aided design and programming
• Cricut machine
• And more!

Equipment and materials will continue to expand as new classes, workshops, and programs are developed.

The Co-op is not currently lending equipment or materials to members to borrow. We recommend checking out the DC Tool Library.

Members are required to contribute three work hours each month to help keep the Co-op running and support its programs and community.

There are many ways to work at the Co-op. Members can contribute through cleaning, events, classes, ongoing roles, working groups, and other activities.

Examples include:

• Cleaning: Help keep the space clean and ready for classes, open studios, and member use. Active members can sign up for available cleaning shifts.
• Classes and workshops: Assist instructors with setup, instruction, materials, or cleanup.
• Events: Help with setup, teardown, staffing, outreach, materials, and other event needs.
• Working group roles: Join a group that helps organize the Co-op's activities, such as planning classes and events, managing equipment and materials, and leading business operations that keep the Co-op up and running. There are many roles within working groups that people can take on.

Current work opportunities can be found on our Work Opportunities page.

Please cancel as soon as possible to allow time for another member to fill the role. You can cancel your work shift by clicking on a link in your registration email or on the work event page on the website.

Members log their work hours by submitting a form on the Brown Street Maker Co-op website here.

Work hours for the following activities are automated and do not need to be submitted using the form:

• Working Group Coordinators earn three work hours per month for fulfilling the role
• Cleaning shifts earn three work hours per completed shift after attendance and the cleaning report are confirmed
• Assistant instructor and other work shifts earn three work hours per event
• Instructor or studio lead shifts earn work hours per event
• Submitting a class or open studio proposal credits the submitter three work hours per submission
• Attending orientation credits the attendee one work hour

Yes! The Co-op is actively seeking members who are interested in developing or leading classes and open studio sessions.

Classes and other programming will grow to reflect the skills and interests of Co-op members as well as the needs of the broader community.

If you are interested in teaching a class or hosting an open studio, please submit a proposal.

We'd love to hear from you! If your organization, business, or group is interested in partnering with the Brown Street Maker Co-op, please contact us at info@brownstreetmakercoop.org.

Thank you for thinking of the Co-op! We welcome inquiries about equipment, tools, materials, and other supplies. Please contact us at info@brownstreetmakercoop.org with a description of what you'd like to donate.

Because space at the Co-op is limited, we are unfortunately unable to accept every donation. We will review each offer and let you know whether we can accept the items.