The Witch and The Geek (Nicky and Pedro) are starting a new venture.
Because of unforeseen circumstances, we find ourselves in danger of losing our studio space, which in turn would mean shutting down our business for an indeterminable amount of time. We, however, are choosing not to let this drag us down! When one door closes, another opens, and for us, that door is our dream of opening a community space for makers like us. We are moving our plans up to open our Makers Guild.
This will be a non-profit space for fellow artists and crafters to come and share in a space full of community, built around inclusivity and creativity.
We are asking for your help so that we would be able to open this new space for other artists to enjoy and also not have to shut down The Witch and The Geek because of not having a space to work.
Below is our mission statement and what we would be offering once this comes to fruition.
Business Name: The Makers Guild
Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Legal Structure: Non-profit
Mission: To foster creativity, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship by providing accessible maker spaces, educational programs, and community networking for local artisans and learners of all ages.
The Makers Guild will be a community-centric hub that will offer rentable studio spaces, public classes, workshops, after-school programs, and summer camps. By combining a vibrant, creative, and inclusive environment with education and commerce, we empower artisans, support small businesses, and inspire the next generation of makers.
What makes our space so important is we plan to provide equipment for those who can't afford it or don't know if they will really like the art.
We plan to start small, with ceramic wheels and sculpting tools while allowing you to bring in your own clays and glazes. We will work closely with members who want to do experimentation and offer workshops to allow guided experimentation. We will also provide tables and easels for drawing and painting, with ventilation and safe storage and disposal for mediums like oil painting and spray painting.
We have plans to expand the equipment we offer but for now, we'll start small. Our private rooms will allow people who have their own equipment; whether it's a wheel or stone grinder for jewelry making, to bring in and set up in a space if their own living situations don't allow it.
Why we need your help
As mentioned before, in order to keep The Witch and The Geek open we need to secure a new space by October or the end of the year at the latest. With this unexpected opportunity we have decided to fill a need we know others in our community have as well.
With the money we raise through here and grants we will use it to:
*Secure a location.
*Pay for plumbing, electrical and ventilation as needed.
*Install storage and private rooms.
*Purchase additional wheels, tables, easels and other supplies to help any artist from novice to pro with their artistic journey.
*Build programs that will give back to our community through fundraising events for local charities, after school and summer programs for kids, and host visiting artists for workshops. This includes plans to partner with other organizations within our amazing community.
How we will show our gratitude
"It takes a village to raise a child," is one of Nicky's favorite things today, and it takes a community to help a small business thrive. We have been incredibly touched and humbled by the support we have already received from all of our customers since. we began in 2020 and are excited to see our community continue to thrive and flourish.
As a token of our thanks, each backer will receive a gift in the following tiers:
$10+ | Cheerful Creator → A big, heartfelt thank-you shoutout on our social media + your name listed on our online “Founders Wall.”
$25+ | Brushstroke Backer → Everything above + a Makers Guild sticker pack to brighten up your sketchbooks, laptops, or studio space.
$50+ | Clay & Canvas Supporter → All of the above + early access invites to our opening gallery show and community events.
$100+ | Maker’s Circle Member → All of the above + your name on our in-person “Founders Wall” inside the Guild + a limited-edition Guild enamel pin.
$250+ | Creative Catalyst → All of the above + one free workshop or class of your choice once the Guild opens.
$500+ | Studio Sustainer → All of the above + a 1-month Makers Guild membership once we open (or gift it to a friend if you’re not local!).
$1,000+ | Patron of the Guild → All of the above + a personalized tour of the Makers Guild with our team + your name (or business name) featured as a Patron Sponsor at our opening event and gallery show.
Why it's so important
Here is why it's so important to us to open the Makers Guild; we believe in accessibility and inclusivity and a welcoming collaborative environment. There are already some wonderful places in down that offer a space for artists but each has their own limitations. (As our's will too!) But, providing diversity of choice helps stimulate growth economically and on an individual level.
We want to help offer something that helps people achieve their creative goals. Whether it's in our hours of operation, or the equipment we provide, or simply the vibes! We want to make a home for creatives like us to make their world and the world around them a little more beautiful and to feel proud to say "I made that!"
How You Can Help
Donate what you can—every little bit adds up!
Share this campaign with your friends and community.
Become part of our growing creative family.
Together, we can build a Makers Guild that brings people together and helps creativity thrive. Thank you for believing in this dream with us!
—The Nicky and Pedro
The Witch and The Geek
The Makers Guild
Organizer
