The Space is a free art and tech “maker space” with a focus on providing an open, therapeutic working environment. Started as a pop-up idea in September 2018, The Space has evolved into a fixture of Beltway Plaza Mall in the historic city of Greenbelt, Maryland. Offering open studio and structured workshops for all ages as our way of providing the community with high-quality art supplies, computer technology, and professional, creative instruction.

What Goes on at The SPACE

• Free art-making space and supplies
• Mental wellness days, including a support group, mainly for teenagers and their parents, led by poet/mental health advocate Whiskey Girl.
• Vintage game nights
• Expressive art workshops
• Sewing
• Teaching computer programming and web design

A website for The SPACE is coming soon but in the meantime you can follow it on Facebook and on Instagram.

Who’s in Charge – Shaymar Higgs

The force behind The SPACE is one Shaymar Higgs, whose website describes him as an “artist, designer, educator, pastry chef, skate park manager, skateboarding instructor, mural garden art director, mental health advocate and someone with wanderlust.”  He opened his first community art space in her garage and has gone on to teach art at the Prince George’s African-American Museum, Project Create in DC, and the Fridge art gallery. He’s a graduate of the Greenbelt Citizens Police Academy Class 18-01 and sits on the City of Greenbelt’s Art Advisory Board.

The Space in the News

To learn more about the many interesting stops along his career path from pastry chef to art educator and mental wellness advocate, you can read all about them in this article.

And thanks to Greenbelt Access Television for their story about The Space, below.