From belly dancing to woodworking, the Workspace offers instruction for crafts and culture to ISU students.

Located in the basement of the Memorial Union, the Workspace is a place where people can go to work on art projects and show their inventive sides.

Theresa Cannon, adviser in the programming department of the Memorial Union, said the Workspace is trying to attract students to participate in this semester’s classes.

“Our spring semester of classes has just begun, and the brochures have just been distributed,” she said.

A variety of classes are offered at the Workspace. Some of them include belly dancing, paper marbling, Persian tile design, three jewelry classes, calligraphy and woodworking.

Cannon said the most popular classes in the past have been ceramics, photography and the salsa/meringue instruction.

Kate Waterman, sophomore in apparel design, participates in Workspace classes in her free time.

“The salsa and meringue class that I took was a lot of fun,” she said. “The atmosphere is very comfortable, and I would definitely recommend this service to ISU students.”

Although Workspace classes do not count as college credit, Cannon believes they’re still a valuable creative outlet.

“What is great about Workspace is that there are a variety of opportunities available,” she said. “It is for your own enjoyment, and the classes give you a chance to learn about something that you are interested in without worrying about tuition costs.”

The majority of Workspace classes are offered as night instruction, usually beginning at 6 p.m. Expenses vary from class to class, ranging anywhere from $6 to $69.

Classes aren’t the only service provided by the Workspace. Students can work there on their own projects for a fee of $2 a day. Semester passes also can be purchased.

Jasmine Friedl, supervisor at the Workspace, said it provides a comfortable environment.

“We are always trying to get new people in here,” said Friedl, junior in graphic design. “It is a good place to be able to come and work on projects with a very studio-like atmosphere.”

The Workspace is open Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

To learn more about the Workspace, contact Cannon at 294-0971 or the Workspace Information Center at 294-0970.