Makers Guild launched on the Point

A new creative initiative is taking shape in Point Roberts as Resilient Point Roberts partners with local artist Rhys-Thorvald Hansen to launch a Makers Guild and explore a shared community studio and cooperative retail space. Residents can help shape the project at a visioning session on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the community center on Gulf Road. The meeting is open to everyone –artists or not.

Hansen said the first session is meant to begin understanding what the community wants. “The major goal is to introduce the project to folks, what the opportunity is right now around the potential for the shared space, and then identify who wants to get involved, who wants to volunteer, who wants to participate,” they said. (Hansen uses they, them and their as personal pronouns.) They hope to understand “not just individual interests, but where there’s overlap and energy.”

Hansen held summer open houses in their studio and those revealed how many makers live quietly on the Point and want more ways to connect. “I heard over and over again what a shame it was that the previous gallery had closed, and how much they missed opportunities to share their work and gather,” Hansen said.

Now based in the former National Real Estate building at 1385 Gulf Road, Hansen sees a range of possibilities for the space but wants direction from residents. “I feel totally open about what it could be,” they said. “I have ideas and assumptions, but I want to hear what the need is.”

A cooperative retail shop is part of the long-term vision. Hansen said the model would allow artists to staff the store themselves while keeping most of the income. “The artists themselves provide the staffing,” they said. “It’s a nonprofit endeavor, where we prioritize the majority of income going back to the artists and makers.”

Organizer Kara Smith said the Makers Guild idea grew directly out of this year’s economic development sessions, where residents called for more community connection, creativity, and collaboration. “A makerspace and a guild felt like a path that could grow with us, shaped by whoever shows up,” Smith said. The early meetings, she added, will be intentionally open-ended. “This is very much a listening phase. We want people to feel like they can help guide the direction.”

As a project of Resilient Point Roberts, the guild will be able to pursue a variety of arts and economic development grants. Hansen said those applications will reflect whatever the community decides it wants. Interest is already building, but they plan to wait until the cooperative is formally organized before accepting work. If plans move smoothly, the retail shop could open by late spring or early summer.

A second visioning session is scheduled for December 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the new Makers Guild location. Smith said the feedback process will continue into next year. “It’s not going to be one meeting and done,” she said. “People need room to dream a little.”

Hansen hopes the effort draws in a broad range of residents. “Even if someone says, ‘I’m not artistic, I don’t make things,’ but they care about the future of our community — we would really love to have them participate,” they said. “There’s something for everybody to do.”

For more information, residents can email resilient.pointroberts@gmail.com.