Connect & Create
Erie businesses have a legacy of invention and manufacturing that continues to shape the city’s identity. That spirit of creativity still thrives downtown, where you’ll find spaces dedicated to helping makers and innovators bring their visions to life and make something new.
Only blocks from Erie’s main manufacturing corridor, where trade professionals shape the building blocks of industry, downtown provides makerspaces, studios, and workshops that empower individuals to create as both hobbyists and professionals. From hands-on learning experiences to industrial-grade equipment, this dynamic environment supports a wide range of dreams, inviting you to discover, design, and make your mark.
Studios
If you're in need of a space to create, you can find it downtown!
- Visual artists can reach out to the Bastion, Basement Transmissions, and PACA for info on renting private studios
- An Erie ClaySpace membership gives you access to all the equipment you need for your ceramic creations
- Musicians looking to record their jams can find a fully equipped recording studio at 1020 Collective
- Reach out to places like City Gallery, Odd Moon Creatives, and the Inner-City Neighborhood Art House to learn about their designated times for open studio
Digital Creations
In the heart of the city, you can find the tools you need to expand your digital endeavors. Photography, live streams, podcasts, vlogs, and animation all have a place downtown, where you can find the tools you need!
Your digital art deserves high-quality printing. At this local art spot, you can get your fine art printed on 100% cotton paper, so your prints are sharp and gallery-ready.
IdeaLab | Blasco Memorial Library
Discover your digital creativity for free at the local library. Explore software on their design computers or book the Media Lab for audio recording. With your free library card, you can check out Maker Kits for podcasting, photography, and video recording.
Radius CoWork
For those looking for a space to work that fosters community and collaboration, Radius CoWork may be what you're looking for. Among the many benefits, facilities include an equipped podcast studio, 750/750Mbps fiber internet, printers, and a network of creatives and entrepreneurs alike.
This indie game publisher prides itself on their accessible and inclusive games being engaging yet easy-going. If you're a developer whose game would feel at home here, send your pitch to Whitethorn and they could help connect you to the resources needed to make your idea a virtual reality!
Establish your virtual presence with the help of a CAM Erie membership. Livestream your competitive side in their e-sports studio, film your show on their studio stage, or record your podcast in one of their dedicated rooms. You can also book an editing booth to refine your media or explore their equipment rentals. Beyond membership, this nonprofit offers paid production services, technical assistance, and rental options for organizations and individuals alike.
Handmade
Whether you’re crafting products for your Etsy shop or prototyping a new product for your startup, downtown’s makerspaces offer the tools and equipment you need to leave a lasting impression!
Idea Lab | Blasco Memorial Library
Get your craft on while supporting your local library! For cost of materials--or for free if you bring your own--you can use their Cricut, Glowforge, soldering station, vacuum former, sewing machines, 3D printers, and much more to make things like:
- Jewelry and Accessories
- Personalized Apparel
- Handcrafted Stationery
- Art Prints and Posters
- 3D-Printed Creations
- Laser-Cut and Engraved Products
- Crochet
- Sewing and Textile Projects
- Custom Candle and Soap Molds
Your destination for industrial-grade tools and manufacturing machines! Equipped with wood and metal shops along with electronics and advanced manufacturing zones, you’ll find what you need to take on projects like:
- Precision Engineering and Machining
- Product Development and Prototyping
- Custom Manufacturing
- Woodworking
- Advanced Metalwork and Machining
- Electronics and Robotics
- Custom Finishing and Durability.
Learn
If you've been curious about a craft, there's a good chance you'll find somewhere to learn about it downtown!
- Media training at CAM Erie
- Erie ClaySpace individual and series classes
- The Inner-City Neighborhood Art House classes and open studio sessions
- Guides and classes for the equipment found at the Blasco Library's IdeaLab
- Mosaic classes at City Gallery
- Painting classes and meditative art exploration with Odd Moon Creatives
- Foundation Art Academy's courses and workshops for all ages
- Private sessions or classes at Lake Erie School of Woodworking
- Erie Art Museum classes exploring different art mediums
