Building together one hour at a time

Since 2023

The Workshop

is a Minneapolis-based community cooperative founded in 2023 by a collective of makers, artists, and educators who believed that learning shouldn't be gatekept; that the best education happens when people from wildly different backgrounds show up to make something together. Today, we're a thriving network of members spanning ages 8 to 82, all learning hands-on skills from each other in shared studio and workshop space.

Our core values

  • Radical Accessibility — No one turned away for lack of funds.
  • Intergenerational Exchange — Age is an asset, not a barrier.
  • Learning by Doing — Hands-on creation over theory.
  • Mutual Aid — Members teach each other with no hierarchy.
  • Ecological Consciousness — Repair over replace, reuse over discard.

With 340+ active members and counting, The Workshop continues to grow every month.

18 skill categories, ranging from electronics to filmmaking to urban gardening to woodworking.

Our Mission

The Workshop exists to democratize access to tools, knowledge, and creative community; proving that when people learn together across lines of age, background, and experience, everyone becomes a better maker.

We envision a Twin Cities where anyone, regardless of means, can walk into a space, pick up a tool, and learn something real from someone they trust.

Knowledge belongs to all of us

Anyone can propose a skill-share or workshop. We provide space, tools, liability coverage; members provide passion and expertise. Compensation is voluntary "pay-what-you-can" contributions (no one pays if they can't afford it).

ASL interpreters at all public events, wheelchair-accessible studios, sensory-friendly workshop hours, sliding-scale or free membership, childcare available, materials provided. We believe "accessibility" means real invitation, not retrofit.

Shared library of tools and materials; members can "check out" expensive equipment (welding torch, film camera, 3D printer) without owning it. Radical resource-sharing.

We're making a difference

100% member-owned. Zero corporate sponsorship. Since day one, we've logged 12,400+ hours of skill-sharing and mentorship.

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Featured Mentors & Community Builders

Kai Rodriguez

Teaches: Soldering, circuit design, electronics repair.

Salvages e-waste and teaches community members how to fix broken devices.

Aisha Johnson

Teaches: Documentary, cinematography, editing.

Leading a project to document neighborhood oral histories.

Marcus Liu

Teaches: Furniture building, wood joinery, design thinking.

Running a "furniture rescue" workshop teaching people to refinish found pieces.

Pria Desai

Teaches: Seed-starting, permaculture, fermentation, food preservation.

Converting vacant lot into community garden; teaching food sovereignty.