In 1969, the Memorial Union created a program called the Union Craft Center. Though the name has since changed to the Workspace, the purpose of the program has remained the same: to provide students, and others within the community, the opportunity to learn or further develop art and craft skills in their spare time.And now, with the beginning of the spring semester, the Workspace is offering a new crop of classes, from hemp jewelry to belly dancing.”The Workspace is a pay-by-the-day studio,” Theresa Cannon, Program Adviser for the Student Union Board, said. There is a $2 fee for each day of use, regardless of how much time is spent in the studio that day.Semester passes are available for $20 and, with the exception of the woodshop and jewelry studios, provide unlimited use of the Workspace.”The equipment in these studios are dangerous so we want to make sure people know how to use them safely,” Cannon said. Therefore, enrollment in these classes is required before use of the equipment is allowed.Other classes available for enrollment include photography, guitar lessons, woodshop, ceramics and belly dancing.”Within the last year, almost all of our classes have filled,” Cannon said. Belly dancing, ceramics, photography and calligraphy have been the most popular classes and usually have waiting lists.Time-length and price can vary depending on class topic. “Some of our classes meet for three hours [in one night] and that’s it,” Cannon said. “Others meet for eight weeks. If there’s supplies involved [with the class], it’s going to up the cost.”Classes cost anywhere from $10 to $90.Class size and materials also play a role in how the classes are set up. “For the ceramics class, we have eight wheels, so we can only have eight people,” Cannon said.As a testament to the popularity of the Workspace, the Government of Student Body gave a grant to the ceramics class for the purchase of eight electric wheels. These will replace the eight, old kick-wheels which have been in use since the early ’70s. Additionally, the ceramics class schedule has been expanded. “Last semester, all of the students wanted more [out of the class] so we made it into an eight week class,” Cannon said.Enrollment in a class gives the student access to the equipment any time the Workspace is open. “All of our instructors encourage their students to come in any time and work on their own” as long as there is no other class in progress, Cannon said.Anyone interested in signing up for a Workspace class must do so before Jan. 16. Payment for classes must be received upon registration.To register for a class, visit the Workspace, located in the basement of the Union, or call 294-0970. For more information on classes, click here.