Frequently Asked Questions
The Student Union Craft Center is...
- A space for students, faculty, and staff to freely learn techniques and skills in ten different craft areas through the demonstration of student staff members.
- A student agency of the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Graduate Student Government (GSG) positioned within the division of Student Affairs and Campus Life.
- A positive participant in the UMass Amherst community and within the culture of the Student Union.
- A non-profit hybrid arts organization that fuses art, teaching, and business.
- A craft supply store providing materials at reasonable prices for student budgets.
- A place to cultivate creativity, knowledge, and friendships.
- An opportunity to gain challenging employment and valuable career experience where staff members develop skills and expertise required in professional jobs.
The SU Craft Center is a student run agency with a university hired director. To learn more about what areas the Craft Center has, check out our Craft Areas.
The Student Union Craft Center is located on the lower floor of the Student Union Building. This is our address:
41 Campus Center Way
Student Union Building Room 239
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003
Hours: We are closed for summer break! We will update our hours when we re-open, September 2026.
General info for when we are open: The Craft Center is open to UMass Amherst members during our regular floor hours. Any closings for private events will be announced on our instagram. We are closed on holidays. If the university closes campus for weather related reasons, we also close. The Craft Center can accommodate private events for on-campus groups provided enough lead time. Inquire by emailing [email protected].
Craft Center membership is limited to current University of Massachusetts Amherst undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff with a valid University of Massachusetts Amherst I.D. Please stop by the SU Craft Center during our open hours to read our safety policy acknowledgement sheet and sign up for membership.
Five College Membership: Price for Five College members is $15/semester or $25/year. Please email us, @email, prior to visiting!
In order to access our tools, machinery and space, members must have a Craft Center membership card. To gain a membership card, come to the Craft Center during our open hours and bring your current UMass ID. You will read our safety policy acknowledgement sheet and then receive a membership card. Membership safety policies are listed on the home page for your reference.
The Craft Center offers tools and materials for the following areas: beading, book making, button making, felting/fiber arts, leather, paper marbling, black and white film photography, sewing, silk painting, screen printing, metal-smithing, and stained glass. These areas are available for use during our open hours and occasional workshops. Tools for any area are checked out by members for usage ONLY in our space. Materials are paid for by members; we take UCard debit and debit/credit. You are welcome to bring in your own materials and tools to use in our space, as long as tools are approved for usage in our space and do not violate any of our safety policies and you keep track of your materials. Sorry, no wood burning, open flames, butane torches, etc. allowed.
To learn more specifically about each area, click here. Additionally, we provide acrylic paints, crayons, colored pencils, markers, ribbon, rubber stamps, a variety of paper, watercolors, ...and helpful staff!
If you have ideas for materials or craft instruction we should offer, please do not hesitate to let us know! Contact: @email or leave a note with our staff.
No problem, we love beginners! The Craft Center focuses on training staff to be fully knowledgeable in the basics of each area. The Craft Center staff is always accommodating to members, no matter the craft. Staff is trained to explain step-by-step instruction to fully complete a project.
Screen Printing and Photography workshops:
To utilize our screen printing or photography areas, you are required to attend an orientation, and then a workshop in these areas. Please email us at @email to inquire. Include the word "Photo" or "Screen printing" in the subject line of your email.
Workshop fees (and in some cases material fees) are charged at the time of your workshop.
If we are offering workshops in other craft areas, please stay tuned to our Instagram account.
Workshops are taught and run by our undergraduate student staff.
We are seeking creative, dedicated individuals for positions on our staff for our next hiring cycle, Fall 2026. Applicants must have expertise in at least one of our craft areas and/or transferable skills such as: print making of any kind, clay/ceramics/pottery, zine-making, knitting/crochet, wood fabrication, etc. Craft Center staff members participate in all aspects of the business, making for a highly involved, intensive, and rewarding job.
The Student Union Craft Center is a dynamic and unique facility. We provide tools, materials, and instruction in ten distinct areas: beading, b&w film photography, bookmaking, felting/fiber arts, leather, metalsmithing, sewing, silk painting, screen-printing, and stained glass. This hiring cycle, Fall 2026, we are looking to hire folks for our sewing, beading, metalsmithing and leather craft areas.
Click here to fill out our application form. (You must use your UMass email credentials in order to apply)
Application deadline is 9/20/2026 at 8pm. All applications will be reviewed shortly thereafter.
The Craft Center offers special student group, academic, and department workshops scheduled throughout the semester. To request an event, email @email. We recommend reaching out regarding your event at least a month prior to event. Depending on the event, there may be an instruction fee and charge for materials.