Free Workshops & Open Houses in Pittsburgh

Prototype PGH hosts free workshops and open houses in Pittsburgh every month at both makerspaces. Here is the full rundown from our team:

Monthly open houses

Each month we host free open houses at Prototype x Oakland and Prototype x Sharpsburg. The Open House host gives the attendees a tour and answers any questions they may have about the facilities, membership or workshops. Open houses are open to the public and do not require sign-ups ahead of time. Prototype members are welcome to attend open houses as well to meet other members and volunteers in the Prototype community and/or use that time to work on projects in the company of others.

Open House dates and times:

●       Oakland location: second Saturday of every month, 12-2pm

●       Sharpsburg location: second Sunday of every month, 12-2pm

Free community meetups

We also host a number of free meetups, which offer additional opportunities to stop by, learn about Prototype, and meet other members. Free meetups are member-led unpaid and informal gatherings around a topic or project. Some of these include:

Pittsburgh Songwriters

Pittsburgh Songwriters is a monthly meetup for songwriters, producers, and musicians to share their work and talk about the craft. Bring a finished track, a demo, or even a rough idea and receive feedback from fellow creators while discussing songwriting, production, and mixing. The meetup is open to all styles and experience levels and provides an opportunity to workshop songs, exchange tips, meet potential collaborators, and hear what other local artists are creating. Participants are encouraged to bring whatever they use to make music, including instruments, laptops, MPCs, or other creative tools.

Trans Tailoring

Trans Tailoring is a monthly free meetup for queer sewists and designers to work on projects in community with others. We meet on the first Sunday of every month at Prototype X Sharpsburg. It's a great opportunity to get feedback or help on something in an affirming space; many sewists know that sometimes you need a second pair of hands, or eyes, on a project! Participants are encouraged to bring their own sewing machine, fabric scissors, projects, and supplies; Prototype does have 2 sewing machines and most basic sewing and tailoring supplies available -- chalk, thread, etc.

Trans tailoring is welcome to people of all genders and embodied experiences, and centers trans bodies and experiences. It is a body-neutral and gender-neutral space. What trans tailoring is not: a formal workshop with instruction or lecture, a professional clothes tailoring service, or a sewing meetup that centers cis bodies and norms.

Our developer and tech community meetups, including Code & Coffee and Society of Hackers, are listed on our developer community page. We also host recurring gatherings such as Stay Sharp Sharpsburg, Game Night, and Prototype Marketing Office Hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a member to attend the open house?

Open Houses are free and open to the general public.

Do I need to register to attend the open house?

You may register ahead of time, but it is not necessary to do so.

Do I need to register for free meetups ahead of time?

Yes, even though they are free, we kindly request that participants sign up ahead of time via our events page. Registrations close out 24 hours before the event, so if you would like to come last-minute, please email us to inquire about attending.

Related

Want to try a hands-on class? Explore our sewing classes, laser cutting trainings, and screen printing workshops.