LAS CRUCES — Creative ideas need a space to grow and a group of Las Crucens are asking for a little help from the community to make that happen.
Cruces Creatives has plans to open a “makerspace” — a shared studio, workshop and tool shed for entrepreneurs, crafters and artists — in downtown Las Cruces, hopefully by the end of this summer.
“It’s like a gym for tools,” said Lea Wise-Surguy, who along with husband, Pat, and a group of local volunteers and activists, are spearheading the effort. Cruces Creatives believes New Mexico State University and Doña Ana Community College have trained graduates for work in the creative and innovative sectors, but the tools of the trade are often too expensive for individuals to purchase on their own. By creating a shared space and access to tools — from hand tools and woodworking equipment to 3-D printing systems, laser cutters,…