Project Update February 2026:
A new creative chapter is beginning in Point Roberts!
Resilient Point Roberts is supporting a new project to grow our cultural economy: A Makers Guild where community can come together and local creatives can thrive.
A makers guild is a community of creators — from professional artisans to hobbyists — who share resources, knowledge, and support for mutual benefit. The Point Roberts Makers Guild seeks to promote handcraft, art, and other locally designed and/or produced goods, as well as uplift the makers who live and work here. While this is not a new idea in the community, it has been revived due to the opportunity to operate at 5 Mile Sq Studio on Gulf Rd.
Together we will explore the possibilities of what this space can become and connect with others who are passionate about building our cultural economy.
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to our two initial visioning sessions in November and December 2025!
Your interest in the project, and eagerness to participate has been a warm reassurance of how much this is needed in our community. Our team has been diligently working behind the scenes to build out the project plan based on your expressed interests and feedback. It is clear that the vision and opportunity is much larger than what can be held in one residence-turned-commercial space, but we are excited to proceed building an organizational foundation that will allow us to fundraise and grow beyond the current space.
The project plan is broken into two phases:
Phase 1 (2025-2026) is focused on launching the cooperatively-operated retail store and classroom/workshop space on the ground floor of the building. We expect to open these in summer 2026.
Phase 2 (2027) will focus on building out the community studio and low-tech makerspace.
Launching the cooperative store and workshop room first will allow us to build the operational systems necessary to manage shared equipment and tools necessary for a makerspace/community studio, as well as create a revenue stream to help cover operating costs. The timelines on these two portions of the project may change if we are able to secure funding and accelerate project capacity.
This winter, the project team has focused on the nuts and bolts of our operational; building the financial and governing structure to support our partnership with Resilient Point Roberts, applying for grants to fund our work, and other behind-the-scenes work necessary for community-led initiatives to succeed. We expect to put out a call to artists and makers interested in participating in the retail store in late spring once we have polished our initial business plan for success.
We are now ready to expand the community of people working to make this possible! We have a variety of opportunities to get involved- everything from one-time volunteering to ongoing project team participation. If you are potentially interested, please fill out the volunteer form below. Filling out this form does not obligate you to volunteering, but helps us keep track of who might be interested, and where their skills and interests lie. We will get in touch with specific opportunities as they arise.
Read more below about the vision behind this initiative from local resident and maker Rhys-Thorvald Hansen.
Your information is kept confidential, and we will only use it to contact you for volunteer opportunities. We will never share your information without explicit permission.
A letter from Rhys,
This last summer I opened up my art studio for open-houses each Saturday, and got the opportunity to meet so many new neighbors and friends. So many shared stories of their own art practices, reminisced about the Blue Heron art gallery that had and asked if I would consider putting other’s work in my store. Others asked about classes (for adults or kids) and what other creative opportunities there might be locally. I’m so grateful to have had the chance to chat with people and know more of my neighbors on both sides of the border.
This fall, I moved my studio into the former national real estate (NRS) building, and I want to share this space in a way that uplifts creatives in Point Roberts and otherwise grows our local cultural economy. I reached out to Resilient Point Roberts to team up and launch a local makers guild. We’ve re-christened the NRS building as the 5 Mile Sq Studio, and I would be happy to give you a tour.
There is also one more private studio for rent for artists/handcraft/makers on the 2nd floor of the building. Please contact me directly at 425-238-0832 phone/whatsapp if you are interested in more details. All other inquiries should go to Resilient Point Roberts email: resilientpointroberts@gmail.com.
I am excited to hear from each of you, and to see what we can grow together.