Easter holiday digital making events in Exeter
Exeter Library’s FabLab is hosting a programme of hands-on digital making events and workshops, specifically designed for children and young people.
The FabLab is an open access community workshop for anyone to turn their ideas into reality. The FabLab, or fabrication laboratory, allows people of any age the opportunity and facilities to invent, research and make almost any object, using an array of machines and resources.
Staff at the FabLab in Exeter have just announced a line-up of new events aimed at young people, to equip them with new skills, support them with school work and encourage entrepreneurship.
During the Easter holidays, a number of two hour workshops will be held for children who will be taught a range of different skills and techniques, including laser cut clock making, 3D printing, T-shirt vinyl making and tote bag decorating.
In addition, launching on 8th April, the FabLab is running a ‘Digi Makers’ Saturday club for children aged 8-12 years. The club will run every other Saturday and during each session, children will be taught skills in using 2D design software to design and create different objects and artwork, all of which they will be able to take home after the session.
For older kids aged 13-16, the FabLab is running open access sessions every Tuesday from 4pm until 6:45pm. In these informal sessions, young people can build up their design skills or even bring their design homework projects in to complete, with support from FabLab volunteers to use the machinery and software.
The FabLab is a not-for-profit facility run by Libraries Unlimited, the social enterprise and charity which runs all of Devon’s library services. It is part of a global network of FabLab’s across the country, providing access to modern means and materials for invention. Exeter Library’s FabLab is the first such facility to be located within a UK library.
Charlotte Collyer, Enterprise and FabLab Manager said: “We have seen an increase in children and young people using our services at the FabLab recently, particularly those at secondary school, who are looking for support to complete their product design homework or technology projects. It’s fantastic to see young people here making the most of the free facilities on offer, learning new skills and pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone.
She continued: “With this this new programme of sessions designed to meet the needs of children and young people of all ages, we aim to inspire kids to try something new and extend their knowledge of making, product and prototype design. With the Digi Makers sessions, parents and carers can drop their children in to the FabLab, and have a couple of hours to themselves whilst the children get creative using our extensive range of equipment to make everything from jewellery, keyrings and badges to name plaques, plywood clocks or bookmarks.”
For more information on any of the events visit www.fablabdevon.org/events-workshops or book for the events here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/fablab-devon-6722521537
Details of FabLab events and workshops:
Easter holiday workshops:
April 3rd, 10am – 12pm: Tote Bag Decorating Workshop. £15
April 3rd, 2pm – 4pm: Laser Cut Bookmark Workshop. £12
April 7th, 10am – 12pm: T-shirt Vinyl Workshop. £15
April 7th, 2pm – 4pm: Laser Cut Clock Workshop. £15
April 10th, 10am – 12pm: 3D Printing Workshop. £12
April 10th, 2pm – 4pm: Laser Cut Door Sign Workshop. £12
Digi Makers:
Launching on 8th April, held every other Saturday from 10am – 12pm, £12 per child. Digi Makers is aimed at children between 8-12 years and will teach them skills in using 2D design software to design and then create different objects and artwork to take home with them.
Open Access Tuesdays:
Every Tuesday from 4pm to 6:45pm, children aged between 13-16 years are invited to drop into the FabLab, free of charge. These informal sessions will allow children to focus on their own projects or homework with FabLab volunteers who will be on hand to help, support and train children in the use of software and machinery.
For more information about the FabLab visit fablabdevon.org or follow @FabLabDevon or Libraries Unlimited visit www.librariesunlimited.org.uk or follow @LibrariesUnLtd on Twitter.
