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Mill City Skill Share Instructor FAQ

Mill City Skill Share 2023 is on April 2, from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm.

What is Mill City Skill Share?

Mill City Skill Share is a FREE day of sharing. We invite people to share their skills, interests, and experiences with others through lectures, hands-on workshops, demonstrations, performances, etc.

The event was originally created as a way to barter skills. Each instructor offers their time and skill and then benefits from the shared time and skills of others. It’s a fun and creative community day.

Do I need to be a member of Lowell Makes to apply?

You do not. Mill City Skill Share is open to the public, and we enjoy engaging with the Greater Lowell community both as instructors and attendees.

What types of sessions are you looking for?

We look for 30-60 minute sessions that appeal to various ages, interests, and talents. They should be safe, legal, and engaging. You can see from previous Skill Shares that we prefer diversity in the types of skills being shared. Mill City Skill Share participants have learned about hula hooping, pulling cheese, cutting vegetables, making candles, embroidery, turning wood on a lathe, social media marketing, and more. Every year is unique.

Is there a budget for supplies?

We have a small budget for supplies, thanks to support from the Lowell Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. While some workshops require more supplies and some none, we anticipate an average of $100 per workshop. Potential instructors can request up to $200 in supplies.

Lowell Makes typically works with the instructor to purchase the supplies through our vendor relationships.

How do people register for my session?

Mill City Skill Share is a day for people to follow their interests. As such, our sessions are first come, first served, and attendees may come and go as they please. It’s a bit different than other events, but it also creates an environment where attendees can be open to trying something that catches their eye that they may not have considered before.

How do I know how many people I’ll be instructing?

Since we don’t pre-register, there’s no way to know for sure, but we can limit the size of your session as needed. We encourage instructors to be flexible and enjoy the casual and creative atmosphere of the day.

When is the application due, and when will I know if I’ve been selected?

Applications are due by March 10. We will let you know if you’ve been selected as soon as we can, but no later than March 17. If you submit an application and are no longer able to participate, please let us know as soon as possible.