What The Makery does

The Makery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit creative collective headquartered at 123 S. Fraser Street in downtown State College, Pennsylvania, with a satellite location at the Bellefonte Art Museum. Founded by Amy Frank, the organization operates a light-filled studio space offering hands-on classes, workshops, open studio time, birthday parties, group events, and summer camps spanning more than a dozen creative disciplines — including sewing, pottery, painting, photography, jewelry making, modern calligraphy, printmaking, glass fusion, edible arts, and creative writing. Instruction is delivered by approximately fifteen independent contractor instructors who use the shared studio space and book classes through third-party platforms (BigCartel, Square).

The business operates on a transactional, pay-as-you-go revenue model across multiple streams: drop-in open studio time priced at $10/hour per family plus $5–$20 base materials; individual workshops ranging $35–$200; summer camps at $165–$250 per camper; kids' birthday parties starting at $250 for up to ten children; group events at $15–$20 per guest; facility rentals at $200 for two hours; and gift certificates. The Makery Market, a mission-driven boutique, showcases local artisans and provides job training for young women transitioning out of foster care. Donorbox-powered charitable donations supplement earned revenue under the nonprofit structure.

The Makery serves families with children, adults and teens, Penn State University students, group/organizational clients, and museum visitors in Centre County. Distribution is wholly direct and physical across the two studio locations, with email and social channels (Instagram, Facebook, newsletter) driving top-of-funnel awareness and consistent regional press coverage (WJAC, Centre Daily Times, WTAJ, State College Magazine, Daily Collegian, WPSU). The organization has no proprietary technology platform, no app, no AI/ML capabilities, and no disclosed revenue figures; it is supported by a core team of approximately 13 staff plus independent instructors.

Name

The Makery

Legal name

The Makery

Website

https://themakerypa.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Makery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit creative collective in State College, Pennsylvania, operating two studio locations that offer hands-on art classes, open studio time, birthday parties, group events, and summer camps across 12+ disciplines for families, adults, teens, and Penn State students in Centre County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education and Creative Workshops

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

akta.pro primary industry

Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crafts & DIY (Paper, Fiber, Wood, Resin, DIY Projects) (EDAAAGAB), Kids Party Entertainment (Clowns, Magicians, Characters) (HSACACAG), DIY Craft Kits & Project Kits Retail (CRALACAH)

Keywords

• Art classes
• Creative workshops
• Summer camps
• Birthday parties
• Open studio

Headquarters

HQ city

State College

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Classes and Workshops: Revenue from teaching structured art and craft classes including sewing, painting, pottery, photography, knitting, creative writing, calligraphy, botanical arts, and more. Classes are taught by independent contractor instructors using the studio space.
2. Open Studio Sessions: Self-guided studio time where families and children create process art projects. Priced per hour per family plus the cost of chosen base materials.
3. Birthday Parties and Events: Hosting children's and adults' birthday parties, showers, and special events with customizable craft activities. Kids parties start at $250 for up to 10 children; adult events vary by project type.
4. Summer Camps: Week-long summer camps for various age groups covering photography, sewing, clay, crochet, edible arts, painting, calligraphy, creative writing, and more.
5. Group Events and Facility Rentals: Private open studio events for groups at $15/guest, group paddle painting at $20/guest, and full facility rental at $200/2 hours.
6. The Makery Market Boutique: Mission-driven boutique showcasing local artisan products made in Central PA. Provides job-training environment for young women transitioning out of foster care.
7. Donations and Support: 501(c)(3) non-profit organization accepting donations to continue offering classes, workshops, and open studio time for children and families in Centre County.
8. Consulting Services: Offers consulting to help others create similar creative spaces, including business planning, clientele development, financial structure, and marketing guidance.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Makery is a community-based creative arts studio that sells art classes, multi-session workshops, kids' and adult birthday party packages, drop-in open studio time, and summer art camps at its State College, Pennsylvania location and at a satellite inside the Bellefonte Art Museum. It complements these hands-on services with a mission-driven retail boutique called The Makery Market that supports young women transitioning out of foster care, and accepts tax-deductible donations as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Product overview

The Makery is a creative collective and 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering art-full classes, workshops, parties, and events in State College, Pennsylvania. The core offerings include: Classes (ongoing instruction in sewing, painting, pottery, photography, jewelry, calligraphy, and more), Open Studio (self-guided creative time), Group Events and Birthday Parties (for kids, teens, and adults), and Summer Camps (multi-day art programs for children). Supporting offerings include The Makery Market (mission-driven boutique supporting local artisans and foster care transitions), The Makery at Bellefonte Art Museum (satellite children's studio), Consulting Services (advisory for creative space creation), and Gift Certificates. The portfolio is unified by its focus on creative connection and hands-on making experiences across all age groups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Art Classes
• Creative Workshops
• Birthday Parties
• Open Studio
• Summer Camps
• Makery Market

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bellefonte Art MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The Makery operates a satellite location called 'The Makery at BAM' on the second floor of the Bellefonte Art Museum. This partnership provides a dedicated children's art studio within the museum, offering self-led making experiences for kids. The space is open Friday through Sunday, expanding The Makery's geographic reach and community presence in Bellefonte.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kidcreate Studio: Children's art education franchise offering classes, camps, birthday parties, and open studio time. Most directly comparable peer across The Makery's youth camps, parties, and process-art open studio.
• Pinot's Palette: Paint-and-sip franchise with instructor-led painting classes and private event offerings. Comparable on adult social art classes and party/event hosting.
• Painting with a Twist: Largest paint-and-sip franchise in the U.S. offering guided painting classes with social/party formats. Directly comparable to The Makery's adult party offerings and class-based studio model.
• Abrakadoodle: Mobile children's art education franchise offering classes, camps, and parties across multiple art disciplines. Comparable on multi-discipline youth programming and party/event business lines.
• Board & Brush Creative Studio: DIY wood-sign and home décor workshop franchise offering instructor-led classes, private parties, and corporate events. Directly comparable on guided craft classes and group/party business model.
• AR Workshop: DIY workshop chain offering instructor-led classes on wood signs, canvas, and home décor with private party and event formats. Comparable on craft class breadth and group event revenue model.
• Color Me Mine: Paint-your-own-pottery franchise with walk-in studio experiences, parties, and group events. Closely comparable to The Makery's pottery classes, kids birthday parties, and process-art open studio format.

Broad incumbents

• Blick Art Materials: Major art supplies retailer serving students, hobbyists, and professional artists. Comparable on arts/crafts customer base that supplies The Makery's student population.
• Hobby Lobby: National arts, crafts, and home décor retailer with broad hobby supply assortment. Comparable on underlying arts/crafts customer demographic, though serves demand via retail rather than instruction.
• Michaels: Largest U.S. arts, crafts, and hobby supplies retailer. Comparable on arts/crafts customer base, though distribution channel (retail vs. studio instruction) differs; affects The Makery's customer demand environment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/themakerypa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/themakerypa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Makery