The odors of paint and clay hang in the air of the long, narrow flight of stairs leading to the basement of the Memorial Union.

Bright lights illuminate the large mural on the wall and the wide array of tools decorate the Workspace, a studio and instructional facility open to students and the public.

Originally called the Union Craft Center, the studio first opened in November 1969. Back then, it was located in a small room behind the bowling alley in the Union recreation center. The center moved to the current location in 1970 and has since expanded twice to include the entire basement wing.

The name was changed to the Workspace in 1984, and it continues to offer a wide variety of classes, including hemp jewelry making, wheel-thrown pottery and belly dancing, said Theresa Cannon, program adviser for the Workspace.

“We offer just about any class you can think of,” she said. “Just a broad range of stuff.”

Classes range in length from one session for three hours to once a week for eight weeks. All classes are in the evening after 5 p.m.

Cannon said the size of the classes depend on the class being taken. Ceramics classes are limited to eight people, due to equipment availability. Most other classes contain eight to 12 people. The smallest class will hold three people, because there must be three people signed up to hold a class.

“[The cost] depends on the class,” she said. The cheapest class is $20 while the most expensive is $90.

The fees are based on the length of the class and the amount of supplies involved. The fee is broken into two parts – tuition and supplies.

Students who want a discount can bring two friends along. Each will receive 10 percent off tuition.

In addition to the classes offered, students can pay $2 a day or $20 a semester to use the Workspace as a studio to work on their own projects.

“[Students] can just do whatever they want,” said Angie Gordon, student manager of the Workspace.

“It’s just really relaxed. Also, it’s good because you can take advantage of the [tools] you don’t have at home, like a pottery wheel.”

Their obscure location in the basement of the Union has been a challenge the Workspace has been trying to overcome with advertising.

“We’ve concentrated on letting students know we’re here,” Cannon said.

Gordon said the campaign has worked.

“Over the past couple years, I’ve noticed an increase in students [coming in],” said Gordon, junior in graphic design. “More and more [students] are finding out about us.”

To accommodate students, the Workspace hours were expanded this semester. The Workspace is open 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The area is closed Sundays and holidays.

“A lot of people said they wanted to come in before 3:15 p.m. and on Fridays.” Gordon said. “It gives a little bit more variety to work around peoples’ schedules.”

The Workspace is offering some new classes for adults starting this semester. They include basic bike repair, dream catchers, watercolor painting and papermaking.

There is a wide variety of classes, and unlike other classes, “there’s no homework,” Cannon said.

For more information on the Workspace check it out at www.mu.iastate.edu/workspace.