If you’re in Downtown Tacoma visiting either the University of Washington in Tacoma, the local TAM (Tacoma Art Museum), Museum of Glass, or Washington State History Museum – just across the street on Pacific Ave you HAVE to go see Tinkertopia!
Tinkertopia works with local businesses and the community to safely gather reusable materials, converting them into imaginative arts and craft supplies for kids, teachers, “makers and tinkerers.”
Tinkertopia was founded by two artists, one a preschool art teacher who were committed to not only providing opportunities for the community to have low-cost art supplies but also to divert local waste-streams.
Walking into their shop I was in awe – there were creatively assembled pieces all the way to the ceiling, in every corner, wall, shelf. There were bins of art materials of every type imaginable. Do you want haunted piano keys? They have a box of those.
There’s ready-made kits, ready-made art objects, and materials of many shapes and sizes.
Tinkertopia offers their studio/work space for Steam/STEM Tinker workshops, private Makerspace use, Tinker Time for kids – learn what it means to be a maker and to upcycle. Reserve a Tinkerspace today!
You can also help supply them with cool stuff – they have a list of creative materials they love donations of – just give ’em a call!
