#NationOfMakers
Videos from the first-ever White House Maker Faire
The White House Hosts Its First-Ever Maker Faire
White House Maker Faire: The Mobile Fab Lab
White House Maker Faire: The Electric Giraffe Project
More About the Maker Faire
America has always been a nation of tinkerers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. But in recent years, a growing number of Americans have gained access to technologies such as 3D printers, laser cutters, easy-to-use design software, and desktop machine tools. These tools are enabling more Americans to design and build almost anything.
To celebrate America's students and entrepreneurs who are inventing the future with these new technologies and techniques, the President hosted the first-ever White House Maker Faire on June 18, 2014. The event featured Makers, innovators, and entrepreneurs of all ages who are using cutting-edge tools to bring their ideas to life.
The rise of the Maker Movement represents a huge opportunity for the United States. Nationwide, new tools for democratized production are boosting innovation and entrepreneurship in manufacturing, in the same way that the Internet and cloud computing have lowered the barriers to entry for digital startups, creating the foundation for new products and processes that can help to revitalize American manufacturing.
President Obama proclaimed June 18, 2014 a National Day of Making, saying, "I call upon all Americans to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and activities that encourage a new generation of makers and manufacturers to share their talents and hone their skills." Read the Presidential Proclamation here.
Stay Engaged
Communities across America are sharing and celebrating their involvement in the Maker Movement, using #NationOfMakers on Twitter to share their amazing work and connect with other Makers like you.
Want to join in the fun? Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
- Post photos of a current Maker project you are working on or choose a new project to work on and ask a couple of friends or family members to build it with you. You can find fun and creative projects ideas from a variety of websites for Makers such as MAKE.
- Host an open house at your local makerspace or set up a hangout online to connect and share your inventions with Makers across the country.
- Volunteer to be a mentor for someone who is interested in learning a new skill or find a mentor who would be interested in teaching a new skill you’ve been wanting to learn for a while.
- Create a project of your own and then share the plans for your project online through Maker platforms so others can also make, modify, or remix your project.
- Organize a maker roundtable to identify and convene maker thought leaders in your community on expanding Making initiatives, programs, and activities in your neighborhood.
- If you’re an organization or company, encourage your employees to volunteer as an educator and/or mentor to host maker-oriented workshops or classes in your community.
- Follow the action online at www.whitehouse.gov/makerfaire
- Your idea here!
Stay updated here, and follow along at #NationOfMakers.
See How Others Are Staying Engaged
Latest News
From the Blog
See All- December 05, 2014
Celebrating National Entrepreneurship Month
- December 04, 2014
A Strategy to Accelerate Cutting-Edge Materials Innovation
- November 26, 2014
#GivingTuesday 2014: Individual Action, Worldwide Impact
From the Pressroom
See AllVideos
- November 14, 2014
West Wing Week: 11/14/14 or, "The Future That We See"
- August 20, 2014
Introducing the U.S. Digital Service
- July 23, 2014
White House White Board: Vice President Biden on Rebuild America