Plans for New Community Makerspace Move Forward with $450,000 MSAC Arts Capital Grant!
L-R: Arthur Shepherd (former Director of Dept. of Recreation & Parks), Buffy Giddens, Esq (St. Mary’s County Deputy Attorney), Executive Director Susie Glauner and Outreach Coordinator Wednesday Davis (St. Mary’s County Arts Council), Ray Bivens (Director of Dept. of Recreation & Parks). Image on R credit: Dept. of Recreation & Parks.
Operated by the St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Recreation & Parks (R&P), the Carver Recreation Center is located at 47382 Lincoln Avenue in Lexington Park, MD. Home to several classrooms, an indoor basketball court, full performance stage, a gymnasium with bleachers, and an adjacent playground, this center is a popular place for sports activities and facility rentals.
The center, which is also the former George Washington Carver Elementary School, is in the process of receiving a brand new 5,000-square-foot renovation!
The new Carver Community Arts Center & Makerspace is anticipated to open by spring 2026. This deadline was pushed forward from fall 2025 due to a delay in funding disbursement, which is now resolved.
The original plans are moving forward strongly, with the goal of construction of a brand new arts-based wing on the eastern side of the building. This dream has been realized through a partnership of the St. Mary’s County Arts Council, St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks, and PaxSpace, with support from various grants and sponsors.
A $100,000 Maryland Makerspace Initiative Program grant from TEDCO was awarded to PaxSpace for their relocation and new equipment expenses. A $450,000 grant from the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) Arts Capital Grant Program was approved on July 29, 2025, by the St. Mary’s County Commissioners. This application was scored highest by MSAC, from among 55 other submissions for projects throughout the state of Maryland!
St. Mary’s County Arts Council Executive Director, Susie Glauner, expressed that this community center will fill a current void in the comprehensive offerings of a wide variety of artistic programs for local youth, teen, and adults, all in one location.
"This facility will enable access to an array of activities that were never before publicly available in St. Mary's County. My hope is that once people engage in activities at Carver, they will discover new hobbies, interests and skills that will provide a better quality of life and lifelong enrichment." - Susie Glauner
PaxSpace brings their current offerings of a full wood shop, metal forming, machining and welding, electronics digital fabrication, and resources for fabric and leatherwork.
New offerings and equipment includes:
· A pottery and glazing studio with wheels and kilns.
· A stained and fused glass workshop area with a small metalworking section for jewelry making.
· Enhanced fiber arts equipment.
· Upgraded wood and metalworking tools.
· Expanded 3D printing and laser cutting equipment.
For updated news about the progress of this project plus announcements re: the future opening date, sign up here for the St. Mary’s County Arts Council e-newsletter.
Links of interest:
St. Mary’s County Arts Council
St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks
Also of note! All are invited to a FREE musical performance at the Carver Community Center featuring Dr. Ceylon Mitchell and Raíces Negras on Thursday, September 25, 2025 from 4:30 – 6 PM. Learn more about this very special event here. Meet the staff from St. Mary’s County Arts Council!
The following evening features a ticketed event on Friday, September 26th at 7:30 PM hosted by Music From Poplar Hill in Valley Lee, MD! Click here for details.
