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Pottery

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Jewelry Making

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Wood Working

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Metal Working

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3D Printing

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& much more!

✳︎ Pottery ✳︎ Jewelry Making ✳︎ Wood Working ✳︎ Metal Working ✳︎ 3D Printing ✳︎ & much more!

The Carver Community Arts Center & Makerspace is well underway with a 5,000-square-foot renovation, slated for completion in fall 2026! This new program is located at the St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks Carver Recreation Center building at 47382 Lincoln Avenue in Lexington Park, MD.

The center (and former home to George Washington Carver Elementary School) currently offers classroom space, an indoor basketball court, a full professional-level performance stage, a gymnasium with bleachers, and an adjacent playground. The eastern wing has been under construction through a partnership between St. Mary’s County Arts Council, St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks, and PaxSpace, Inc.

A $100,000 Maryland Makerspace Initiative Program grant from TEDCO was awarded to PaxSpace for its relocation and new equipment purchases. 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. We are also working on other fundraising initiatives, including sponsorship opportunities to support growth and maintenance.

At the heart of the daily operations is PaxSpace, a non-profit, member-operated makerspace offering the following opportunities plus more to come!

3D printing and laser cutting equipment
digital and electronic fabrication machines
fiber arts/sewing machines
pottery and glazing studio with wheels and kilns.
stained and fused glass workshop area with a small metalworking section for jewelry making.
machining and welding center
full metal shop
full wood shop
paint booth
project space

Save the date of Tuesday, November 17, 2026 for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 2 PM! An Open House will follow until 4 PM.

All are invited to the ceremony to learn more about the new center and tour the facilities.

Sign up here to receive the St. Mary’s County Arts Council e-newsletter for additional details coming soon!

A big thank you to TruHome Builders, Inc. for their hard work on this project!

Links of interest:

PaxSpace

St. Mary’s County Arts Council

St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks

Maryland State Arts Council

TEDCO

The beginning stages!

January 2025 Tour

One of our first tours of the soon to be developed Carver Community Arts Center & Makerspace!
January 2025 Tour

Much work to be done! Ceilings, floors, walls, carpets, electrical work, and painting - a major overhaul is due!
January 2025 Tour

Despite the current conditions, we see so much potential in the five classrooms as a future Arts Center & Makerspace!
January 2025 Tour

We envision this walk-in closet to be a treasure trove of art supplies and creative resources!
January 2025 Tour

We love the big closets that shout out storage space for art supplies! A major renovation can fix everything!
January 2025 Tour

We love this wide-open space! With some upgrades and updates, this will be the perfect room for our local creatives!

Good News - Grants Approved!

County Commissioners Meeting

Good news! Two major grants are approved at the Commissioners’ Meeting in September, 2025!
Program Advocates: L-R: Arthur Shepherd (former Director of Dept. of Recreation & Parks), Buffy Giddens, Esq (St. Mary’s County Deputy Attorney), Executive Director Susie Glauner & Outreach Coordinator Wednesday Davis (St. Mary’s County Arts Council), Ray Bivens (Director of Dept. of Recreation & Parks).
TEDCO

A $100,000 Maryland Makerspace Initiative Program grant from TEDCO was awarded to PaxSpace for their relocation and new equipment expenses.
TEDCO is leading innovation to market in Maryland and contributing to a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in the state through its various programs and funds.
Maryland State Arts Council

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!
PaxSpace (AWAITING HI RES IMAGE)

PaxSpace, a 501(c)(3) non-profit group and recipient of the TEDCO grant, will run the daily operations of the Carver Community Arts Center & Makerspace!
PaxSpace hopes to inspire lifelong learning and innovation while also strengthening our local community.

July 2026 - Progress Continues!

July 2026

Major renovations are underway! The saggy ceilings are gone and electrical work almost done!
July 2026

Check out these big, beautiful windows! This room is sectioned off to separate work spaces.
July 2026

The old carpets are gone and the floors prepped for the next steps!
July 2026

The whole east wing is home to the new Carver Community Arts Center & Makserspace!
July 2026

This room has since been emptied! The ceiling and electrical work are almost done!
July 2026

We saw so much potential in these rooms! The flooring is ready to rock and roll!
July 2026

We can already hear the hums of new machinery, conversation, community, and creativity!