Michelle Pope

About Michelle Pope

My work lives at the intersection of creativity, community, and economic opportunity. As a glass artist with deep roots in Thurston County\'s arts and innovation ecosystem, I\'ve spent over two decades building the kinds of spaces and structures that help people bring their ideas to life. That through-line runs from my decade directing visual arts operations at The Evergreen State College to my current role as Director of Lacey MakerSpace, where I lead a regional fabrication and learning hub serving 450+ members across the South Puget Sound. At LMS, we provide access to high-tech equipment, skills training, and workforce development programming through partnerships with organizations like AJAC, ANEW, and the Port of Olympia, turning a shared workspace into a real driver of regional economic growth.Since 2021, our team has grown membership from 45 to 450+, completed a $1.4M facility expansion, and helped bring in over $1M in grants and sponsorships to support programming, equipment, and operations. I also serve on the board of the Olympia Artspace Alliance, where we advocate for affordable creative space as both an economic asset and a community right.When people have the right tools, training, and community, remarkable things happen. If you\'re working in workforce development, creative economy, or arts programming, I\'d welcome the connection.

Experience

1. Director

   Lacey Makerspace

   May 2021 — Present · Lacey, WA, US

   As Director, I lead the strategic growth and day-to-day operations of a regional makerspace operating under the Thurston Economic Development Council\'s Center for Business and Innovation. Lacey MakerSpace serves 450+ members across the South Puget Sound from our facility, offering access to advanced fabrication tools, workforce development programming, and a collaborative community built around education, inspiration, and hands-on skill building.Since 2021, our team has grown membership from 45 to 450+(a 900%+ increase), completed a $1.4M facility expansion, and helped secure over $1M in grants and sponsorships supporting programming, equipment, and operations. We\'ve built partnerships across workforce development, manufacturing, education, and the arts, including with AJAC, ANEW, and the Port of Olympia, and developed programming spanning prototyping, manufacturing, creative arts, entrepreneurship, and assistive technology.

Education

• The Evergreen State College

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Visual Arts