MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Students eager to spark their creativity at Middle Tennessee State University have a new outlet for expression on campus with the recent opening of the Student Union Craft Center.
Sadie Katie Larson, assistant director of operations for the Student Union Building, is excited to bring the space to life in Room 206 with do-it-yourself “craftivities.”
“We look forward to seeing the impact it will have on our campus community,” said Larson, who hopes the center will foster a sense of community on campus. “Student unions are actually internationally known as the living rooms of campus. … What else would you want to do than craft in your living room?”
The Craft Center offers almost any material or tool imaginable: sewing machines, painting supplies, bracelet-making materials, embroidery supplies, Cricut machines, knitting and crochet supplies, heat presses, blank tote bags and more.
The Craft Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.
Larson said this new amenity is part of the SUB’s commitment to student wellness, belonging and creative expression.
“Craft centers are becoming way more popular in student unions,” said Larson. “The idea is just that students can come and do whatever they want.”
“This is fun. It’s very relaxing,” said Ja’Delle Ross as she painted a desert landscape at the Sept. 8 grand opening. The political and global affairs student stumbled upon the Center with her friend Ka’Mya Sails, an animal science major, while they were looking for a place to study. A creative break turned out to be just the thing.
“I think that this could be like a kind of hangout spot, because all my friends are arts majors,” said Amariah Woods, a freshman aerospace student from Memphis, as she painted a small, square canvas.
As part of a community art project, students, faculty and staff are invited to visit the center and paint these mini canvases, to be displayed together as one large piece.
“The more people are involved, the more meaningful the final mural will be,” said Larson, emphasizing that no artistic experience is required to participate.
Campus crafting groups are already using the space — a crochet club meets there on Tuesday nights. Larson is hopeful other groups will soon follow suit. The center also happily accepts craft supply donations. To arrange group meetings or donation drop-offs for the Student Union Craft Center, connect with Larson at [email protected].
— Cat Curtis Murphy ([email protected])
This drawerful of blue yarn could become a scarf, a bag, a sock puppet’s fuzzy mane — opportunities abound in Middle Tennessee State University’s new Student Union Craft Center, which opened on Sept. 8, 2026, in Room 206 of the Student Union Building in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy) 
Middle Tennessee State University aerospace major Amariah Woods from Memphis, Tenn., paints a tiny canvas in the new Student Union Craft Center, which opened Sept. 8, 2026, on the second floor of the Student Union Building in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The canvases are part of a community art project to be displayed in the Student Union. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy) 
She’s a painter, she’s a track star — Middle Tennessee State University senior and runner Emma Benzinger holds up her tiny canvas, which she painted to represent MTSU’s track team. The agribusiness student took a break from studying to join her mom, fellow student Lisa Benzinger, in checking out the Student Union Building’s recently opened Craft Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy) 
A group of students check in to Middle Tennessee State University’s new Student Union Craft Center on the second floor of the Student Union Building in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Opened Sept. 8, 2026, the new space offers almost any material or tool imaginable: sewing machines, painting supplies, bracelet-making materials, embroidery supplies, Cricut machines, knitting and crochet supplies, heat presses, blank tote bags and more. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy) 
A tangle of hot glue guns and Mod Podge glue are ready for use by Middle Tennessee State University students inside the Student Union Craft Center, which opened Sept. 8, 2026, on the second floor of the Student Union Building at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy) Hundreds of pony beads sorted by color await to be threaded onto bracelets, keychains or any number of projects created at the new Student Union Craft Center, which opened Sept. 8, 2026, on the second floor of the Student Union Building at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy) 
Amariah Woods, an aerospace major from Memphis, left, and Lisa Benzinger, an administrative assistant in the advising office of the College of Liberal Arts and digital media master’s student, work on tiny canvases as part of a community art project for Middle Tennessee State University’s new Craft Center, which opened Sept. 8, 2026, on the second floor of the Student Union Building in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)
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