Written by Lisa Viaches
This week, I visited Ignite Studio at the Hamilton East Public Library in Fishers. This dedicated makerspace and art studio, located on the lower level of the Fishers Library, is an incredible and cutting-edge facility for kids, teens, and families. Ignite Studio sparks curiosity, imagination, and exploration in a creative space for creative community members.
Families can check out activity kits, utilize tools and equipment like 3D printers and Cricuts, book time in the A.V. Studio to record a podcast, sew a pillow, fold origami, make a laser engraved bedroom sign, use the pottery wheel, visit a Maker-In-Residence, participate in drop-in art classes, and SO much more. It’s unreal how many different things you can do there. The best part? It’s all FREE!!
Explore Ignite Studio
Ignite Studio is a space like no other. It is hard to describe but it has been called an art library. A workshop. A recording studio. A makerspace. A building place. It is a light and airy space with media specialists ready to help with your projects. There are so many options and there is so much to discover at Ignite Studio. You don’t even need to go in with a plan. Just stop by and look through all of the different things to try. It is located on the ground level of the Hamilton East Public Library, so plan to pick up books on reserve or check out other library programs while you are there!
You don’t have to be a professional or an expert to visit Ignite Studio. It’s a great place to try new things with the family (or for teens to explore new interests on their own) without having to purchase expensive equipment or supplies. Children can learn new skills and develop their creativity at their own pace. We might have to visit weekly this summer!
Here is an overview of all of the things you can do at Ignite Studio:
Kit Libraries
Ignite Studio has two awesome kit libraries, one geared toward teens and adults and another geared towards kids aged 5-13. Kits come fully stocked with the supplies and tools needed to try a variety of activities. Families can browse the kit library to choose a project to work on, check out the kit at the welcome desk, and get to work. Kits are free to check out with a library card and can be used on-site (kits can also be checked out without a HEPL library card – just ask the Ignite Studio employees how).
Some of the kits are best used in the Messy Maker Area of the studio and others can be used in the Clean Maker Area. Check out the lists below for an idea of some of the kits available to check out. Each kit has an information sheet, books, supplies, and a link to more resources on the Ignite Studio website. You must be 13 years old or older to check out a kit.
Teens and Adults Kits
Alcohol Inks
Bookbinding
Button Maker
Calligraphy
Charcoal Drawing
Cricut Maker
Crochet
Embroidery
Gouache
Graphite Pencils
Watercolor Painting
Relief Cut Printmaking
Jewelry Making
Origami
Sewing
Oil Pastels
Wheel Throwing
Microbit Coding
Paper Engineering Pop-Ups
Paper Quilling
Screen Printing
Acrylic Painting
Spirograph Super
Clay Hand Building
Relief Cut Printmaking
Pyrograph
Cross-Stitching
Chalk Pastels
Kids Kits 
Sewn Circuits
Stop Motion Animation
Color Mixing
Foam Mosaics
Squishy Circuits
Littlebits
Ozobots
Botley the Coding Robot
Stamping
Spirograph
Perler Beads
Needle Felting
Knitting
Paper Mosaic
Sunset Projection Lamp
Keva Maker Bot Maze
K’new Power and Play
The Teens and Adults kits are seriously cool. Consider checking out a kit if you want a cool bonding activity with your teens or want to set your older kids up for a really cool hangout activity. These kits make it possible to try a new activity without any of the upfront costs that you would have at an art supply store. This is especially cool for kids that like to try lots of new things but you don’t know which interest to fully invest in. Consider hitting up Ignite Studio on your next Mom’s Night (or Dad’s Night!) Out and try a new art project with your friends, without the kids.
The Kids’ Kits are educational and super fun. These kits make learning exciting and are a great way to combat summer learning loss and to keep learning year-round. The kid kits are also an AMAZING resource for homeschool families. Check out a kit to get hands-on learning on all things STEAM without spending a dime.
Our family loves Squishy Circuits, Color Theory, and Found Art kits. While I was hanging out at Ignite Studio, I saw a few kids working on a Stop Motion Video Project. When they were done, they showed me the incredible stop-motion video they made in under 30 minutes. It was so cool to see how proud they were of their hard work and it was honestly a very impressive video. Learn more about the kit library here.
Equipment Library
Ignite Studio offers a variety of equipment that can be checked out and used in the Fab Lab. You must be 13+ years of age or accompanied by an adult to check out equipment and you should make an appointment online.
There is a range of sewing machines for beginners to advanced stitchers as well as embroidery machines and sergers. Use one of two sublimation printers, a heat press clamshell, or a mug press to create personalized products. Both a Cricut Maker and a Silhouette Cameo 4 are available to cut vinyl, paper, or fabric. Check out laptops, laminators, photo scanners, Wacom tablets for photo-editing and animation, and other tools to use with various equipment throughout the space.
Fab Lab
Take your creativity to the next level at the Fab Lab where you can work on your projects with equipment not found at home. Have you ever wanted to use a 3D printer? Well, now you can. The Fab Lab has really nice equipment that you can use after completing a certification class at the studio. In addition to 3D printing, you can make engraved coasters with a laser engraver or create signs, t-shirts, and more using a vinyl cutter and clamshell heat press. You can bring your own materials or purchase some through Ignite Studio if needed.
The Fab Lab requires that users be 13 years old or older and have completed a certification course for each piece of equipment needed. Users can make a reservation for the equipment they need.
Digital Media Labs
Patrons can book time in one of the four lab spaces in the digital media lab on Ignite Studio’s website. Lab spaces are free and equipped with a 27″ iMac with retina display and the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, as well as post-production software for A.V. post-production.
You can check out a Photography Equipment Kit (tripod, ring light) and an Audio Equipment Kit (microphones, headphones, pop filters) to jump-start your video recording project. Users must be in 6th grade or older to utilize the digital media lab without an adult. Users can book time in two-hour blocks up to 4 times per week.
A.V. Studio
Ignite Studio also has an incredible audio/visual production studio that allows users to create their own podcast, take still photography, shoot video, or record an audiobook or record. The studio is soundproofed and even comes with a fully stocked equipment closet, A.V. computers, high-end cameras, lighting equipment, a green screen, and other hardware. Users can book time in the A.V. Studio on Ignite’s website in two-hour blocks (limited to six consecutive hours and 12 hours per week).
Equipment
Audio/Video:
Mixing Console
Microphones
Cabling
High-end Cameras
Lighting Equipment
Green Screen
Adobe Premiere Pro
Create:
Podcasts
Audiobooks
Still Photography
Music Records
If you’re interested but not sure where to start, there are classes occurring regularly on sound equipment and video equipment training. Check the events calendar to find the next class. The A.V. Studio may be reserved by patrons 16 and older for groups including patrons in grades 6 and up. Patrons in grades 5 and below must be accompanied by an adult age 18 and older.
Maker Areas
Ignite Studio offers zones for creativity. The Messy Maker Area is available to make a mess with paints and clay or you can create something beautiful from paper or fabric in the Clean Maker Area. The Clean-Up Area is where you can grab supplemental items to clean up after finishing your project. You can also leave personal tools and supplies in a closet or locker in the Storage Area.
Gathering and Performance Space
Dedicated space is available for budding musicians, magicians, slam poets, or anything else to share their knowledge, learn from others, or teach themselves! Enjoy lounge areas to discover, collaborate, and experiment in creative ways. Practice makes perfect fun!
Exhibit Space
Local artists can work with Ignite Studio to display their work and sell their art without commission fees. The art that is displayed throughout the studio is seriously cool. Take a walk around while there and you will be inspired. The walls also have a huge educational display about color theory and principles of art. Use the exhibits as teachable moments to reinforce those concepts and have kids show what they know!
Events
Ignite Studio has awesome community events like Comic Book in a Day, Superhero University, and much more. There are all kinds of drop-in activities, crafts, and classes for different age groups. A huge hit is Comic Book in a Day which includes activities for the whole family. Comic book fans can watch as local artists complete a whole comic book in a single day. If your kids are comic book or graphic novel fans, this is a can’t-miss event. You can even head upstairs to the Hamilton East Public Library to check out some comic books to take home. You can check out the calendar of events here.
Maker-In-Residence
Connect with professional or emerging artists to learn about their craft, work on a collaborative project, sign up for a class, or just be inspired. Local Indiana artists are available to offer support, by reservation. Artists serve 6-12 week terms in the space, exhibit their work, offer educational experiences to patrons, and provide insight into their own creative process.
Create at Ignite Studio Today!
Excuse me while I obsess over Ignite Studio. Katelyn Coyne, the Ignite Studio Manager, told me that if she makes anything at Ignite Studio, it’s community. How cool is that? She told me that “Ignite Studio is focused around building community, creating opportunities for engagement, making connections, and powering catalytic experiences with art and making.” She shared that Ignite Studio is focused on “setting up opportunities for users to learn and develop their skills in a community-focused atmosphere.” Doesn’t that inspire you to head to Ignite Studio right now and get to making and creating?
I can’t wait to see what this generation of kids and teens that have had access to Ignite Studio will grow up to make and create. I have no doubt that this incredible resource will inspire families to explore, learn, make, and create together.
Grab your library card (although a library card or a Fishers residency is not required), get your friends and family, and check out a kit or learn about 3D printing or start a podcast. This place is amazing and should become a regular destination for your family.
Ignite Studio is located in the Hamilton East Public Library in Fishers at 5 Municipal Drive, Fishers, IN 46038. It is open during regular library hours. Check out their website for more information and to take a 3D tour of the studio.
What are your favorite things to do at Ignite Studio? Share your best Ignite Studio comments and photos with us below or tag us on social media using #PLAYindy. Follow Indy with Kids on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for all of the best ideas and things to do with kids in Indy!
Address
5 Municipal Drive
Fishers
IN
46038
Visit Be Creative at IGNITE STUDIO Makerspace and Art Studio