Bob Buchanan - Truckee Roundhouse Fundraising Page

What do an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old have in common? You’ll find them both at the Roundhouse—a place where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities come together to learn, create, and connect. If you’re new to us, we are a community-run, community-serving arts and education hub, the only space of its kind in the North Tahoe region. Within our 4,680-square-foot facility at the Truckee Tahoe Airport, we offer five fully equipped shops—ceramics, wood, metal, textiles, and technology—featuring state-of-the-art CNC lasers, routers, plasma cutters, 3D printers, and more.

In 2024, the Roundhouse recorded 8,542 member and class visits, served 550 students through school and nonprofit partnerships (1/3 from underserved families), and hosted community events that reached thousands—including more than 2,200 attendees at this year’s Maker Show. Every day, we see families working side by side, entrepreneurs testing prototypes, and lifelong makers mentoring the next generation.

Here are the principles that guide us—and how they come alive:

• Community. Community isn’t just our mission; it’s our heartbeat. Through school programs, local partnerships, and Fix-It events with Keep Truckee Green, we create spaces where people learn, make, and uplift one another. For many, the Roundhouse is a creative sanctuary, a wellness resource, and a launchpad for new skills—a place where someone healing from injury finds renewed purpose, where a retiree discovers joy in mentoring, and where new neighbors spark friendships over shared projects.

• Education & Community Enrichment Program (ECEP). Our ECEP brings hands-on learning to young people and veterans through partnerships with local schools and nonprofits. Students ages 12–18 work alongside skilled mentors, learning confidence through craftsmanship as they build real projects in our shops. In 2024–25, we served hundreds of students, including many from underserved families, through partnerships with Truckee High School, Tahoe Expeditionary Academy, Forest Charter, Wounded Warriors, Boys & Girls Club, Scouts, Tahoe Ability Program, AIM High, Sierra Continuation, Sierra College, Trails & Vistas, and more.

• LGBTQIA+ Workshop Series. Every month, free LGBTQIA+ workshops offer queer makers a safe, joyful space to learn, connect, and belong. One young participant shared, “In a place that can feel isolating, opportunities like these do so much good for the hearts and minds of our community.” Across six workshops, we’ve welcomed 62 attendees—far surpassing our initial goal—and 92% say they feel more connected to the local LGBTQIA+ community. With your support, we can continue expanding this vital program through the 2025–26 grant year.

• Maker-in-Residence Program. Launched in Fall 2023, this program gives two high school students an immersive Roundhouse experience with membership, stipends, and one-on-one mentorship. One participant—joining us through Truckee River School, a court-appointed program—has found purpose and community while exploring woodworking, assisting with shop operations, and developing a clothing line inspired by his passion for graphic design. This is what the Roundhouse is all about: helping young makers discover what inspires them and surrounding them with encouragement and opportunity.

• Art RX Workshops. Art RX creates a safe, welcoming space to breathe, create, and feel less alone. These free workshops harness the healing power of art to ease stress, spark connection, and gently support conversations around mental health. While not a replacement for therapy, Art RX offers comfort, community, and pathways to help—especially important in a rural region where mental health resources are limited. A licensed mental health professional attends every workshop to offer guidance and support.

• Senior Workshops. For seniors in our remote mountain region, opportunities for connection can be limited. These workshops provide a warm and accessible space to learn new skills, build relationships across generations, strengthen memory and focus, and experience the joy of creating something by hand.

• The Expansion Project. The Roundhouse is thriving—but we’re out of space. With more than 350 members and waitlists for our most popular classes, demand has outgrown our current footprint. We now have the opportunity to expand into an additional 1,100 square feet right next door. This will let us run more classes, welcome more members, reduce waitlists (especially for high-demand programs like Intro to Ceramics), and introduce new offerings such as stained glass and jewelry-making. Our current open floor plan limits us to one class per shop at a time; expanded space will dramatically improve access and the overall creative experience.

Please Help Us!

Your support keeps all of this possible. Your donation helps ensure the Roundhouse remains open, welcoming, affordable, and accessible to everyone—and keeps creativity at the heart of our community. Thank you for being part of our story!