EVANSTON ART MAKERS OUTPOST IS A PLACE OF POSSIBILITIES
Evanston Art Makers Outpost (AMO) is an art-focused maker space that is more than just a venue —
it's a journey of exploration and rejuvenation, dedicated to exploring and sharing the potential in reusing and repurposing items for creative purposes.
In our ever-changing climate landscape, there's a pressing need to instill in our youth and in ourselves a renewed perspective on waste and nature's treasures. Through demonstration and facilitation, we teach widely applicable techniques and crafts while fostering an environment of creative freedom and exploration.
At AMO, art isn't merely about colors and brushes. We breathe new life into objects often deemed as "junk," or “trash”, molding them into narratives and objects of beauty and meaning. In this endeavor, we hope to nurture an appreciation for the artful potential of waste, promoting sustainable practices within a rich, collaborative environment where every single human feels they belong and is free and safe to come as they are, and be totally safe to be themselves as they create and imagine and collaborate.
75% or more of the materials we have and utilize in our classes, camps, and workshops were collected from community members and local businesses, and were otherwise destined for landfills or the ocean.
We offer a wide variety of programs and community events, including after-school classes, summer camps, pre-k drop in, adult workshops, concerts, community days, drum circles, kids & adult private events such as birthday parties, adult parties & more. We also offer field trips for local schools, corporate team building experiences & collaborative opportunities for all types of businesses and individuals.
Our Outpost After dark Concert Series is in its 2nd year and each year offers a series of concerts featuring some of Chicagoland’s greatest and well known musicians along with a variety of up-and-coming musicians and youth bands. These concerts are sponsored by partnerships with local businesses like Sketchbook Brewing, La Principal, Our Evanston, Main Dempster Mile, Evanston Family Chiropractic & Wellness, Saville Flowers & many others. Concerts are produced & curated by Anna Soltys, Valerie Kahan & Chris Greene! The concerts are a collaborative effort to elevate local businesses, cultivate community and showcase and support artists and musicians.
But that’s not all! We also have 10+ resident professional artists on site who utilize our private studios on our second level to create sculptures, paintings, textile, music, mosaics, jewelry and much more along with 2 musicians.
We are community-centric: at the heart of AMO is a commitment to inclusivity, anti-racism, diversity, and equity. Every individual is always welcome to join us in our inclusive space and feel a sense of belonging.
For more information on the exciting goings-on at the AMO, visit our ABOUT section, subscribe to our newsletter, and explore all of our offerings!
Spring 2024!!
