Makers' Garage: A space in Bengaluru for young inventors to make, break and remake

Some people learn by reading, some by visual cues, and others by doing. Bengaluru-based Makers' Garage is a haven for kinaesthetic learners—who love to make, break, and remake! The open-air, sunlit space is perfect for up to 20 people who like to tinker with and build stuff.

The space is open to the public and equipped with basic tools and raw materials. It is perfect for hosting repair-and-reuse fairs, hackathons, ideathons, and immersive workshops for those who want to build prototypes using low-cost technology.

"The space focuses on fostering innovations, rebuilding and recycling," said Sunil Kumar A., lab manager of Makers' Garage. "We host workshops for the employees of Quest, students, adults, and organizations keen on learning how to use hand and power tools that will help them fix things in their day-to-day lives like drilling walls, soldering, and hammering nails. Participants can also unleash their creativity using the 3D printer, vinyl maker, and woodworking machine."

Makers' Garage has hosted quite a few engaging and educational events, each designed to foster creativity and hands-on learning. The Naxxatra Science Carnival Experience held recently exemplifies the venue's commitment to interactive education. Targeted at homeschooled students aged eight to 13, this event provided an immersive exploration of scientific concepts such as light, wind, and aerodynamics.

Through hands-on experiments, participants were encouraged to grasp basic scientific principles in a fun and practical manner. The event has the potential to become a regular fixture, based on student feedback.

Sitara Srinivasan, founder of Naxxatra Science and Collaborative Research, described Makers' Garage as the perfect place to experiment. "We were amazed by the spaciousness of the Que    st Learning Observatory, and the Makers' Garage is an open space, unlike a conventional classroom," she said. "Access to enough tools, tables, and plug points allowed the students to move around freely and learn through experiments. We will partner with Makers' Garage for the next six months to host project-based workshops that will pave the way for future engineers and inventors."

In addition to science-focused events, Makers' Garage has also hosted creative workshops like Art Attack! which encouraged participants to dive into vinyl cutting and design their own decals. The event supported all skill levels from beginners to seasoned artists. Similarly, the Mandala Art Workshop and Kumiko Workshop showcased artistic techniques that blended mindfulness with craftsmanship, offering participants opportunities to explore and practice traditional art forms.

The venue has also facilitated collaborative and interactive events such as the Civil Society Leaders' Gathering and the LEGO Building Activity on International Day of Play. The former brought together civil society leaders to foster networking and collaborative learning through innovative workshops, while the latter celebrated the importance of play in development with engaging LEGO-based activities. These events emphasize Makers' Garage's role as a hub for both educational and creative endeavours, catering to a wide range of interests and age groups.

Visitors can choose from membership options to suit their needs:  

• Hourly passes (Rs. 200) allow visitors to use any tool for an hour between 10am and 5pm.
• One-day passes (Rs. 1000) allow users to access the space any time between 10 am and 5 pm for one day.
• 10-hour passes (Rs. 1500) allow users to access the space for 10 hours over 3 weeks.

Makers' Garage recommends that you attend a workshop or schedule a visit before buying passes

To know more:
Email makersgarage@questalliance.net, with 'Makers' Garage Pass' in the subject line
Or, call 72043 84147.

www.questalliance.net