That MICA x Open Works collabo is starting to bear fruit

A handful of MICA entrepreneurs will be working on their products at Open Works next month.

The arts college and Station North makerspace recently signed a new partnership to increase collaboration. One part of the agreement was an entrepreneur in residence program, giving MICA students and recent alumni access to the tools and other resources at Open Works. They also get a dedicated space within Open Works’ microstudios.

The first five ventures are set to start on June 1.

“This partnership will help to facilitate accessible career paths for students, and these new opportunities will keep talented makers in Baltimore, contributing to the city’s creative and entrepreneurial economy,” MICA President Samuel Hoi said in a statement.

Here are the six entrepreneurs and what they’re working on:

• Byron Banghart of True North Guide Lab is creating a hanging shelter that will be sold as a kit with instructions.
• Gage Branda and Sebastian Ruiz are developing tools to conduct bio-materials research.
• Trisha Cheeney is looking to grow her line of clothes created out of used plastic shopping bags. She pitched at MICA’s Up/Start competition last month.
• Dylan Guest is producing a line of customized game tables, building on a pool table he created for his senior thesis at MICA.
• Izzi Stein is launching PopOpShop, which features handmade jewelry, home goods and textiles.