The Bodgery is part of a growing movement of people gathering together to make, build, hack, create, and repair things. Often known as makerspaces or hackerspaces, they’re like a community workshop. You may not personally have an enormous workshop filled with amazing tools…but at The Bodgery you do! Imagine the freedom and power of getting your very own key for 24/7 access whenever you feel like making something! Just $50/month for membership and the world is your oyster.
Members (and guests) arrive with all levels of skills and experience in making things. Some pick up a tool for the first time, others run businesses making things. They’re engineers and stay-at-home parents, kitchen-table tinkerers and entrepreneurs, artists, gear-heads, and crafters. We strive to be a welcoming and friendly place for anyone to learn, make, and create.
Visit
We are open to the public for shop tours and to ask questions on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month (7-9pm). We also host regular workshops on things like Welding, Laser Cutting/Engraving, and Woodworking. In addition, we run meetups for people with shared interests, where you can drop by for free, and work alongside others doing similar things. Check our Events page for more info.
Our Model
We are a nonprofit that was created to get more people involved in making things together. Guests are welcome to use the space and most tools for free, as long as a member is present.
That said, there are advantages to membership! Bodgery members pay $50/month and receive 24/7 access, plus storage space, workshop discounts, voting rights, etc. Voting rights because we’re member-run, with a board of rotating volunteers. We’re not only building stuff, we’re also building a makerspace and community! Feedback and ideas are always welcome, although we’ll warn you, we might just congratulate you on your great idea and ask when you plan on getting started!
History
March 2013: The MadCity Makers was founded – a social club for makers, creators, and hackers. The group met to share knowledge, skills, and our passion for making. We taught workshops and held regular meet-ups in libraries and garages around Madison.
June 1, 2014: We opened our first makerspace (900 sqft) in the warehouse of the Evolution Arts Co-op, pooling together our personal tools and sharing skills with anyone who dropped by! We (continue to) invite the public twice a week for Open Shop nights.
July 2015: We moved to larger space (3,400 sqft) on Robertson Rd. to accommodate our growing membership, the expanding array of new tools, and the busy Open Shop nights.
June 2019: Virtual Tour. After again outgrowing our space, we opened a 14,000 square-foot makerspace in the former Oscar Mayer warehouse. Shop areas were expanded, and new areas added.
December 2021: We expanded into an adjacent part of the building, increasing the size to over 21,000 square-feet. As before, shop areas were expanded and new areas added — more tools and more elbow room.
Accomplishments
- We’ve welcomed hundreds of guests from across the country (map below).
- We’ve held 485 Open Shop nights, serving 8,100 community members to date.
- Hosted 800+ workshops and meet-ups to train people in specific skills and tools!
They’re Saying Such Nice Things..!
The Bubbler, part of the Madison Public Library
Media Coverage
