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James W. Johnson is the executive director of MAKE Santa Fe, CEO of Mindshare Labs, and sits on the board of Trustees at Santa Fe Playhouse. He’s also an avid creator. James studied Theater and Art at the University of Idaho, earning his B.F.A.
To date, James has designed or built over 150 different theatrical sets. His work has been on stage at Santa Fe Playhouse, Hedgerow Theater, Flat Rock Playhouse, NC Stage Company, and many others nationwide.
His career in the theater slowly evolved into becoming a non-profit administrator. Over the past decade, James has helped theaters, non-profits, and higher education institutes make their mark on the web by creating online systems that benefit the missions of those institutions. He’s led fundraising, marketing, and business development teams and is a self-taught web developer specializing in programming languages related to web design.
James maintains artistic inspiration through photography, metalwork, and as a scenic designer. He’s passionate about leading MAKE Santa Fe and loves sharing his knowledge.
Articles by James W. Johnson
Creative Mornings @ Make Santa Fe
Read MoreLooking Back Just Three Years Ago
What are we doing today that will define Make Santa Fe over the next 3 years? Recently, during a trip down memory lane, I looked back at some old photos from when I started as Executive Director just three years ago. Back then, programs like 24-hour access, monthly badge classes, and standardized teacher pay didn’t exist. Our Ceramics, Blacksmithing, Leatherworking, and CNC shops didn’t exist. We didn’t even have access to the whole building! So much has changed in 3 years, it’s hard to imagine the impact it’s had on Santa Fe and the creatives that utilize Make.
Read MoreA Generous Gift: Bringing the Fadal VMC 15XT to Life at Make Santa Fe
This summer, Make Santa Fe received an extraordinary gift from Will Putnam: a Fadal VMC 15XT vertical machining center. This industrial-grade CNC mill represents a huge leap forward for our community’s capacity to prototype, fabricate, and create with precision. Will’s donation is not just a machine—it’s an investment in empowering makers across Santa Fe.
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