Barra Foundation supports Newly Formed Department of Making + Doing

The Barra Foundation has awarded the new Department of Making + Doing (DMD) a grant in the amount of $110,000 to develop and deliver programming focused on technical themes in the arts, as well as participatory place-making events for curious Philadelphians to realize ground-breaking art and design that inspires, educates, excites, and encourages creative "making" in Philadelphia. A collaborative effort between four organizations -- Breadboard (a University City Science Center program), The Hacktory, NextFab Studio and Public Workshop -- DMD will offer a multi-disciplinary opportunity for students and the community at large to “make things” using a combination of high-tech tools paired with hands-on learning opportunities in an energizing workshop space on the Science Center campus. Along the way, DMD will draw upon the unique assets and expertise of its partners and explore the intersection of the STEM subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, to deliver contextual-based learning opportunities where local youth can learn how use tools of the 21st-century to solve problems and create opportunities at home and in their communities. Using math and geometry to construct pop-up playgrounds, laser cutting original jewelry designs from digitally prepared vector files, soft-circuit craft projects that teach design and electronics are just a few examples of creative and educational projects that add Art to STEM to create STEAM. “In order for the Greater Philadelphia region – and indeed the entire nation – to succeed, our future innovation workforce must be well-versed in the STEAM subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math,” says Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D., MBA, President & CEO of the University City Science Center. “DMD is playing a critical role by generating informal, collaborative workshop experiences to introduce students to creative and practical applications of STEAM topics.” DMD is also supported by grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as part of the Knight Arts Challenge, ArtPlace America and Cognizant. Read More