Fab Lab Fort Smith is on a mission to make creativity and technology accessible for all ages.  

"We are a community center, but instead of having sports teams and athletic equipment, we have power tools and technology stations,” said Ron Bowes, a co-director of Fab Lab Fort Smith. “So, if you wanted to come in and learn about 3D printing or laser cutting, soldering, electronics, things like that, you can … without having to spend all of the upfront costs to get the equipment and to see if you actually like it or not.”  

Since 2019, the nonprofit has introduced Fort Smith to new skills through community events. 

Earlier this month, the organization joined the Junior League of Fort Smith during its Spring Market. They donated an Arkansas-shaped rolling bar cart and hosted STEM-themed activities for kids, including airplane and catapult kits. 

"We also had boat races, so the kids came in and designed … little Styrofoam paddle boats,” Bowes said. “They got to assemble those and decorate them … wound up the paddle and then let it go and race it down the track.”  

Fab Lab Fort Smith has also led educational events for the Girl Scouts, where troop members assembled marble racetracks from laser-cut designs. 

“They learned about physics and how you put potential energy into the marble, how it goes down the track and loses all of that energy due to friction. That’s why it slows done at the end,” Bowes said. 

Along with education, the nonprofit contributes to community traditions, like the Fort Smith International Film Festival. They designed trophies for the inaugural event and are currently designing this year’s awards. 

The next big project for Fab Lab Fort Smith is establishing a physical space for the community center, a yet to be disclosed location set to open this September. 

The center will operate on a “pay what you can” basis.  

“We don’t want to have like a monthly membership and exclude a whole bunch of people that can really benefit from it,” Bowes said. 

Those interested in learning more about Fab Lab Fort Smith and making a donation can visit www.fablabfortsmith.org.