Home > Newsroom > Free Crafting Event Series by Local Pop-Up in DC’s Golden Triangle Unleashes Children’s Creativity and Introduces New Careers
WASHINGTON, DC—August 5, 2026 — This August, WE MAKE DC is transforming downtown Washington into a hands-on creative playground for families with the launch of CAMP CREATE, a six-night series of free Family Maker Nights designed to inspire the next generation of creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs. CAMP CREATE was developed in partnership with the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) and is made possible through a grant from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice.
Beginning August 11, families are invited to participate in free maker-led workshops at WE MAKE DC in the Golden Triangle (1140 Connecticut Ave NW), where local artists and creative entrepreneurs share their skills, stories, and passion through immersive, hands-on experiences. Each evening features two opportunities to create—one guided workshop led by a professional maker and one open creative activity in the gallery—allowing families to make together while discovering the people behind DC’s thriving creative economy.
“Every child should have the opportunity to meet someone whose job they never knew existed,” said Stacey Price, Founder and CEO of Shop Made Brands and creator of WE MAKE DC. “Whether it’s a ceramic artist, chocolatier, illustrator, screen printer, or podcaster, we want young people to see that creativity isn’t just a hobby—it can become a meaningful career.”
Throughout the six-night series, participants will explore a new creative discipline each week:
Each Family Maker Night is free to attend, with all supplies provided.
The series culminates on Saturday, September 12, with Maker Passport: Creative Futures, an interactive career exploration experience that reimagines the traditional career fair.
Rather than listening to speakers on a stage, youth and families will receive a Maker Passport and travel throughout WE MAKE DC, visiting interactive creative career stations hosted by Washington’s artists, makers, entrepreneurs, and storytellers.
Participants will meet and create alongside:
At every station, participants will meet a professional maker, learn about their career journey, ask questions, participate in a hands-on activity, and collect a passport stamp before moving to the next creative experience.
The event is designed to help youth discover creative career pathways while celebrating the incredible talent found throughout Washington, DC.
“We’re encouraging children and their families to awaken and explore their creativity through this fun series of free programs in the middle of downtown at WE MAKE DC,” said Leona Agouridis, CEO of the Golden Triangle BID.
CAMP CREATE is more than a series of craft workshops—it’s an investment in community connection, creative confidence, and youth inspiration. By introducing families to local artists and entrepreneurs in an accessible, welcoming environment, WE MAKE DC hopes to foster curiosity, encourage creative exploration, and strengthen neighborhood connections through the arts.
The program is designed primarily for youth ages 8–14 and their families, though participants of all ages are welcome.
CAMP CREATE is presented by WE MAKE DC, an immersive cultural experience celebrating the neighborhoods, people, creativity, and stories that shape Washington, DC. Through exhibitions, workshops, performances, and community events, WE MAKE DC invites residents and visitors to experience the city through the people who make it.
For program details, registration, and event updates visit shopmadeindc.com
About WE MAKE DC WE MAKE DC is a first-of-its-kind cultural experience created by Shop Made Brands that celebrates Washington, DC through the voices, creativity, neighborhoods, and makers who define the city. Located in the Golden Triangle, WE MAKE DC offers interactive exhibitions, public programs, workshops, performances, and community storytelling that connects residents and visitors with the people who make DC one of the country’s most vibrant creative communities. Because DC isn’t just where history happened—it’s where creativity is happening every day.
