23HAM

23 Reasons

Here are 23 reasons why you should join us.

01 Creative Workspaces

Smooth. Rough. Clean. Dirty. We have it all. All kinds of surfaces to work away on. Slick wooden community tables for writing, computing, conferencing, eating. Adjustable drafting tables for planning, drawing, cutting. Functional workbenches for chopping, glueing, sawing, soldering, assembling. Light tables for tracing. Self-healing cutting mats for trimming. Easels for painting. Large sinks for washing. Couches for lounging, reading and laptopping.

02 Affordable Rates

Talk is cheap. So are we. Co-working is genius because it allows you shared access to a massive space without the worry of signing a lease or finding your own ‘roommates’. We take care of the space. We take care of finding the people to occupy the space. You just show up and do you thing.

03 Art Studios

2,000+ square feet of studio space. 14 foot ceilings. 5 private studios with 24 hours access. Northern light. Utility sinks. 110 and 220V available. We’re not afraid of your mess.

04 Darkroom

Shared darkroom space with 5 black and white enlargers. Private enlarging station available by appointment. Equipment and chemicals. Prints up to 16″ x 24″. Light table, loading closet, cutting room. Dedicated storage cubby for each member. Art studio can be reserved or rented for studio shoots (b.y.o light kit and backdrop if desired.)

05 Sunroom Lounge

A cozy area that has all the windows you could want, including skylights. There are rugs, bookshelves and large tables for working or quiet conversation. Did I mention the full kitchen with a Wedgewood gas range where you can prepare full meals. Bake some cookies then slouch on the couch and share them with others. This room is basically like the most comfortable one-room house ever.

06 Critique Wall

While you’re here, we hope you will do more than silently sit and think (not that there’s anything wrong with that.) But just wait til you see our Critique Wall. It will inspire you to think out loud. The wall is near the entrance and displays paintings, sketches, poems, sculptures, thing-thangs and scribbles that members have been working on and wish to display. You can simply admire, leave a reaction / suggestion in a comment box or hang something you wish to share. Perhaps someone’s piece will inspire you, perhaps you’ll inspire someone.

07 Free WiFi

One time I was in Paris and I had to pay 2 euro for 30 minutes of internet time at a very well-known American coffeehouse franchise. I thought, this is upsetting, maybe even wrong.

08 Free Refreshments

Free coffee, tea, water and snacks. Don’t load up before bed though.

09 Collaborations

People to talk to, people to observe, people to laugh with, people to love, people to reflect with….O how your garden will grow. Think of how thinking expands when you have someone to share ideas with! That is the entire purpose of co-creating. When you get stumped give Davy a nudge and ask him about his weekend. Who couldn’t use more friends?

10 Member-Driven Programs

Any member can create and lead special interest groups called Sessions. We’ll help you organize and promote your group on our website. The topic, format and frequency are all up to you! Book clubs, dance lessons, art critiques and applied physics discussions are just some of the possibilities. We provide dedicated space available by reservation for your meetings. Then it’s up to you to find participants (they don’t even have to be members!)

11 Facility Reservations

Meetings, clubs, birthday parties, dedicated private studio time. We have so much space and hate to see it ever sit empty. We offer our members the opportunity to let their needs and imaginations dictate what is planned and executed in our flexible spaces.

12 Scholarship Programs

Ideas and innovators are not always financially supported to do what they do best. We hope to change this in the world so they can change the world. We strive to offer residencies and scholarships as our organization continue to grow. We make these available to our most dedicated members as often as our space and funds can allow.

13 Chalkboard Walls

Get busy on our walls! But no profanity. Did you know the fool-proof way to get out of a labrynth is to walk whilst not removing your hand from one of the walls. It might take a while, but at least you won’t get eaten. You could almost do the same thing with chalk in our space because we have sooo many chalkboards, many of which are the walls themselves! Draw and doodle and philosophize out in the open. You could start lists or dialogues that others could add to ad infinitum.

14 Homestyle Comfort

Just like a second home should be. This is easy to appreciate: red couches, wooden tables and chairs, a whole kitchen, some wonderful handmade rugs in the shoe-free zone to sink your unfettered digits into, bookshelves members can share their favorite books, homemade curtains, chalkboard walls for sharing ideas and sketches, outdoor firepits and bbqs, wonderful colored floors and walls, plants and piñatas on cinqo de mayo.

15 Sharing Library

We have books (and magazines) to offer. There aren’t many, but what we do have is good stuff. Some classics, some philosophy, some creative resources, some poetry and some theory. Supposedly, all books will be digital soon which will save a lot of paper. This is good for trees and people with lazy wrists, but for those who still enjoy counting pages, our books are your books. We also strongly encourage you to share your books too. Even the raunchy ones. Bring your tattered Thoreaus and back-issues CommArts / Newsweeks.

16 West Berkeley Neighborhood

We’re nestled in the neighborhood of West Berkeley. The wide streets provide plenty of free parking space. The Berkeley Marina offers bayside strolls between brainstorms. If you want a bit more action San Pablo is just a few blocks away. Locals say, Picante is the best Mexican place around, but Chipotle takes a close second, both just blocks away. If you have a bike, stock up at the new West Berkeley Bowl during lunch hour. If our free coffee isn’t up to your standards, you can get one for a whopping $2.50 at the renown Café Fanny, with ACME Bread attached at the hip. Or Peet’s on 4th Street. There are plenty of places to have a drink or a meal along Gilman Street, including Jimmy Beans, T-Rex and the Pyramid Ale House right next door. Wow, we also have live music at Ashkenaz and that underage heavy-metal place. Supplies? Office Depot and Utrecht are both within walking distance.

17 Easy to Find

The N. Berkeley BART & Berkeley Amtrak are each about a mile away, and in high school I could walk a 15 minute mile. That’s nothing! Or bike over and leave it inside our gate to keep it safe. Park your hybrid on our street for free. There are buses. #52 comes straight from downtown Berkeley/UCB Campus. #9 comes from Claremont/Ashby. #72 does Emeryville/Oakland & El Cerrito. #19 services Fruitvale/West Oakland. #H & Z go to and fro SF.

18 Daily Access Hours

Mon-Fri, 8-10
Sat, 10-10
Sun, 10-5
Or if you get a private studio you can get a key and come whenever.

19 Grassroots Project

We are not a corporate investor project. We are not a cookie cutter franchise. We are the old-fashioned people-can-make-a-difference types. We are doing this project from the bottom-up. Bottom of our hearts, hope to die, stick a finger in my eye.

20 Communal Equipment

We have an (ever-growing) collection of tools and equipment for members to use. Some are free and readily available like easels and oversized self-healing mats. Some require reservation and are available for a small rental fee, like midi keyboards or multimedia projectors.

21 Storage Space

You already carry around more than you should. We have plenty of storage space available to keep your things safe overnight. Darkroom and private studio members get dedicated storage included in membership. Everyone else can rent space for as little as $10/month.