Written by Maggie Samples // Photo by Macy Cox
Make.Do. purchased a building in downtown Searcy and plans to move locations in April 2024. This change will give the creative nonprofit more stability than the current location and provide an impact on downtown Searcy.
Make.Do. offers free community events, pay-what-you-can creative classes for the public and private parties for groups.
Executive director and founder Jo Ellis said the change to the new location on Spruce Street will provide longevity and stability for Make.Do.
“It allows Make.Do. to be in control of our own space and design studio spaces that maximize participant experiences,” Ellis said. “And there’s way better parking.”
Make.Do. will offer the same services, but the new space will be better tailored to the needs of the business and its customers.
Ellis said the change will also impact the Searcy downtown area.
“We’re rehabilitating a building that has been derelict for over a decade and bolstering the economic development of downtown,” Ellis said.
Amy Cox, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of art and design, is a member of the Make.Do. board of directors. Cox said investing in the new building is a commitment to improving downtown Searcy.
“As we move into the new building, Make.Do.’s mission will remain to encourage creativity and build community,” Cox said.
Make.Do. has built community in the past by partnering with other businesses. Searcy native and Harding senior Julianne Baker runs The Book Nest, a nonprofit bookstore in downtown Searcy that partnered with Make.Do. for an embroidery night in August.
“People got excited about the books that were chosen for them, and I really appreciated how Jo was thoughtful enough to include us in it,” Baker said.
Baker said she has known about Make. Do. since she was in high school.
“I’ve always thought that it’s been such a unique way of outreach with the community, and as somebody who loves crafts and creativity, I think it’s so cool how she’s tapped into that in Searcy,” Baker said.
Make.Do. has initiated a capital campaign called “Spruce Up on Spruce Street” as part of their work to raise funds for the building. Information about this campaign and future updates about the location move will be posted on the Instagram account @makedocreate.
