Photo: MakerDate fundraiser event at Union Project
Assemble’s MakerDate returned in 2023, presented by sponsor RedTree Web Design. MakerDate is Assemble’s annual fundraiser, the largest fundraising source for the organization, and one of the most fun and creative parties in Pittsburgh! It features a date-style auction featuring local artists and makers, live music, food, and a chance to gather, meet new people, learn new skills, and celebrate Assemble’s work.
The theme in 2023 was “Make it Astronomical”--and MakerDate lived up to it! The event was held at the Union Project. The space was adorned with stars, planets, and neon. Attendees took photos with interplanetary backgrounds in a photobooth and made hands-on crafts like LED name tags. Mingling happened over delicious food and drinks from Sprezzatura, specialty cosmic cocktails, and music from DJ Erin Oh.
The date auction was hosted by Princess Jafar, and featured “dates” from twenty Makers sharing their craft in areas like hand-built ceramic vessels, screenprinting, documentary filmmaking, and physical computing. Additionally, the silent auction included everything from visits to local museums to a basket featuring delicious Italian goodies.
MakerDate 2023 had a total of 186 attendees and raised $41,184 for Assemble. Based on such a triumphant return, MakerDate attendees and the Assemble team left feeling excited, energized, and eager to do it again in 2024!