General Questions
Where is Cruces Creatives located?
Cruces Creatives is located at:
205 East Lohman Avenue
Las Cruces, NM 88001
What are your hours of operation?
Our business hours are:
Tuesday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday, Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, Monday: Closed
What is your phone number?
Our phone number is: 575-448-1072
What is a "makerspace"?
A makerspace is analogous to a gym where you pay a monthly membership fee in order to use weights, treadmills, and stationary bikes for a workout. A makerspace is similar to a gym, except the emphasis is on building things. Cruces Creatives has space and tools dedicated to helping you make certain types of things. Please see our Facility Page for more information. We support the textile arts, audio-visual creation, electronics, robotics (including 3D printing), woodworking, computing, and other activities.
We also have a community of people, both staff and members, who enjoy collaborating with others. You can find answers to most questions right in the building. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
What type of business is Cruces Creatives?
Cruces Creatives is supported monetarily by yearly and monthly membership dues. It is also supported by the community through cash donations, volunteer labor, and donations of tools, fabric, craft supplies, computers, and equipment.
Who is responsible for the Cruces Creatives' vision?
Our Board of Directors consists of a community-based leadership team that includes artists, educators, entrepreneurs, scientists, IT professionals, and engineers.
Do you accept donations?
We have been very fortunate to have received so many donations from the community. We gladly accept donations of money, time, equipment, and supplies. Please see the Contribute Page for more information. We also have a Corporate Sponsorship Program for businesses.
Can I take of a tour of the facility?
Take a fifteen minute tour of Cruces Creatives during any of our business hours. A front desk monitor is always available to answer any questions that you may have.
How about a tour for school classes or other groups?
For larger tours, please contact us to schedule, and perhaps customize, a tour for you. There is a small fee, based on the number of visitors, for a group tour.
How can I keep informed about the makerspace and events occurring there?
You can view upcoming events on the Home Page or, for more events, use the Events Page. You can fill in the information on the Contact Page and you will receive a newsletter via email each week that will keep you up-to-date with the makerspace.
Membership Questions
What does it cost to be a member of Cruces Creatives?
For individual, membership is $45 per month. If you sign up for a full year, you get one month free and pay $495. There are also group membership options described on the Become A Member page. We also offer day passes that can be used or given as gifts.
How do I become a member of Cruces Creatives?
The easiest way is through the Become A Member page. To join through the web site, you will need a credit or debit card. You can also visit the makerspace and a team member will assist you at the front desk. During your first visit, you will need to sign a Waiver of Liability and a document agreeing to our Goals and Policies.
What does it mean to be a member of Cruces Creatives?
As a member, you have full access to the facility during business hours. Membership also includes introductory safety and/or skills classes for each of our major areas. Safety classes are mandatory for areas having potentially hazardous tools.
In a broader sense, being a member means inclusion in a culture of creative, talented, and dedicated people who are working to improve our community.
As a member, do I get discounts or other advantages?
Members get a discounted rate for events held in the facility. Members also get free safety and/or skills classes as part of their membership.
I live fairly far away and don’t anticipate using the makerspace very frequently. Can I use the facility on an as-needed basis?
You can buy day pass packages in packs of five or ten. Each package includes the same safety and/or skill classes as a regular membership. The current price for five (5) day passes is $100. The current price for ten (10) day passes is $150.
What about children? Can they be members?
With the permission of a parent or guardian, a child aged 14 or older may become a member and use the facility. The parent/guardian must sign a waiver of liability for each child and may optionally specify that the child can use the facility unsupervised. The child must attend the standard safety classes.
I am a member. Can I bring children with me to the makerspace?
As a member, you are allowed to bring up to two children, aged 13 and under, with you when you visit. There is no charge for the children. You are required, however, to maintain close supervision of the children and assume responsibility for their safety. Children may be excluded from parts of the facility.
Volunteering Questions
Do you need volunteers?
We love volunteers and are always in need of new ones. When you fill out the Contact Page on the web site, you can specify your volunteering interests. Or, just stop by to discuss volunteering with any team member.
What are the benefits of volunteering?
If you commit to twelve (12) hours of volunteering work per month, on a regular schedule, you earn a free membership. A simple win-win proposition.
What types of volunteering are needed?
If you have a skill to share, we can probably put it to good use. We are always looking for people to act as monitors. Monitors serve as greeters at the front door, perform tours, manage memberships, and maintain a safe environment to all people in the building. We also need people to teach workshops, help with our social media, help out with fundraising, and many other activities.
Event Questions
How do I find out about special events being held at the makerspace?
Check the Home Page for a list of upcoming events. If you subscribe via the Contact Page, you will get a weekly newsletter via email that contains lots of interesting information about the makerspace including upcoming events.
Can I hold an event at Cruces Creatives? How about teach a class?
We encourage community involvement and are always open to new ideas. Please follow the instructions here to begin the process.
Facility Questions
Can members use the conference room for meetings?
Yes, members can reserve the conference room for meetings or other events so long as there is no charge for attendance and it is available during the required period. The conference room can also be rented for special events.
I have a project that will take a while to complete. Can I store it at the makerspace while I work on it?
Yes, we have storage areas specifically for this purpose. At the end of each session, you can store your project. There are forms available that are used to identify it.
What does Cruces Creatives do to ensure the safety of people working in the makerspace?
We require that members attend specific safety training classes before they are allowed to used particular tools. For example, there are safety classes required before using power tools in the woodworking shop. These classes are included in the price of a membership. In addition, areas containing potentially dangerous tools are always staffed by a monitor who is responsible for keeping the area safe.
I have a project that will require quite a lot of materials to complete. Does Cruces Creatives supply these materials as part of my membership?
In general, we do not supply materials for projects. Each member is responsible for procuring any materials needed for their project. There are minor exceptions to this rule. For example, the woodworking shop contains a scrap pile of wood that can be used freely. There are also various fasteners and other hardware. Members should consider these to be community resources and are encouraged to use them considerately and donate their own scrap wood, etc. to the cause. Similar considerations apply to the textile lab.
You should store all computer files on a private flash drive.