Join The Collective!

MACRE is more than just a facility—it is a community-supported engine for media arts, storytelling, and relational media. We are moving away from traditional transactional models toward a cooperative stewardship model. When you become a member, you aren't just "renting space"; you are helping to sustain a home for creativity in Ithaca.

We’ve simplified our process to focus on human connection rather than just paperwork.

Visit the MACRE Cafe

The "front door" of our collective is the MACRE Cafe, held every Wednesday from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.

The Vibe: Drop in, grab a coffee or a baked good, and meet the folks already working here.

The Purpose: This is our vetting process. We want to meet you, hear about your work, and ensure our values align before we hand over a door code.

We rely on membership contributions and donations to keep the lights on and provide radical access and community care

Supporting Member

Best For:

• Alumni & Supporters who want to stay connected and contribute to the collective's long-term sustainability.
• Community Members who value the mission and want to attend workshops but don’t need regular production hours.
• Strategic Partners looking for a "handshake" relationship and a downtown anchor for occasional community engagement.
• Contribution: $15+ / mo (Sliding Scale)

For community supporters, alumni, and friends who believe in the MACRE mission but do not require a dedicated physical footprint or consistent production hours. This tier allows you to stay anchored to the collective, support our cooperative sustainability, and maintain priority access for occasional community engagement.

• Collective Stewardship: Your contribution directly supports the maintenance of the MACRE space and offsets costs for youth and lower-income members.
• Library & Hub Access: Use of the Resource Library and common areas during public hours.
• Community Connectivity: Inclusion in our internal member-only communications and invitations to collective skill-shares.

Active Individual Member

• Best for: Creators who want a consistent physical footprint at MACRE.
• Contribution: $50 – $100 / month (determined by station footprint).
• Access: You can set up a dedicated workstation (where you can leave your things) in an available space.
• The Exchange: Active members understand that their desk may be used by others when they aren't there. We also invite you to bring your own equipment to share with the collective (training provided where needed).

Active Resident Member

• Best for: Individuals, duos, or collectives who require a consistent, dedicated home base to house their gear and grow their practice.

Contribution: Sliding scale starting at $85/month (determined by space and tech needs).

Access:

• Dedicated Footprint: A workstation or studio area solely for your use where you can leave your equipment and personal setups.
• Priority Infrastructure: Integrated access to specialized tools, including the Media Lab (Ableton/Adobe) and the Studio for rehearsals or production.
• 24/7 Agency: Full building access via door code.
• The Exchange: Residents act as anchors of the MACRE ecosystem. You have the agency to host guests or collaborators from your network, provided you (or a designated MACRE sponsor) are present to manage the space and oversee the session.

Organizational Member

• Best for: Non-profits, community groups, and established businesses looking to integrate their operations into a media arts resource exchange.

Contribution: Custom scale starting at $180+ / month (based on footprint and frequency of use).

Access:

• Institutional Hub: A dedicated home base or satellite office for your staff and leadership.
• Resource Priority: Preferred scheduling for the Studio, Gallery, and Media Lab to host workshops, public programming, or rehearsals.
• Full Integration: 24/7 building access for your designated team members.
• The Exchange: Organizational members are primary stewards of the MACRE mission. You have the agency to grant space access to your constituents and project partners. We just require that an authorized sponsoring party from your organization is present to manage the space and uphold our community norms during these sessions.

MACRE is a home for all types of creative workers—from writers, organizers, and researchers to photographers, designers, and musicians. Whether you need a desk away from home to focus on your deep work or a specialized station for production, our facility at 415 N. Tioga Street is designed to support you.

The Media Lab: Professional workstations featuring the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite for editing and design.

Sound Station: A dedicated audio workstation equipped with Ableton for music production, sound design, and podcasting.

Office Resources: Access to printers and high-speed internet for your daily administrative or research needs.

Studio & Recording Space: Versatile areas for interviews, film shoots, or quiet recording.

Resource Exchange: Shared access to cameras, microphones, and lighting kits (currently building our community inventory).

The Community: A built-in network of creators across disciplines focused on community-building and mutual support.

Come see the space for yourself: The best way to get a feel for the workstations and the vibe of the collective is to stop by the MACRE Cafe on Wednesdays from 4–6 PM. We'd love to show you around and see how the space can support your work.

MACRE is a space for curated gatherings, readings, performances, and community-centered events. We prioritize events that align with our values of participatory media and collective exchange.

For MACRE Members

If you have a door code, you have a home for your work.

• Hosting Fee: $0.
• The "Pay it Forward" Contribution: If your event is ticketed and sales exceed $100, we suggest a 20% contribution to MACRE to keep the lights on and the gear running.

For Community Partners (Non-Members)

We love hosting outside organizations and artists, but to keep the space intentional, all non-member events must be sponsored by a current MACRE member. Your sponsor will vouch for the event and handle the "on-the-ground" logistics (keys, tech, and cleanup).

• Small Gatherings (<20 people): No flat fee. We just ask for a 20% contribution of ticket sales over $100.
• Large Events (20+ people): $150 flat hosting fee + a signed Event Agreement.