Today marks five weeks until the eve of One Spark, the crowdfunding festival scheduled April 17-21 at more than 60 Downtown venues.
More than 400 creations will be showcased for the public during the five-day event, when art, music, inventions and ideas will compete for a share of One Spark's $250,000 cash prize pool, based on votes cast by festival attendees.
Elton Rivas, One Spark co-founder and executive director, said the festival entries fall into three main categories: visual art of all genres, music and other forms of performance art and tech and engineering innovations.
Each creator has been matched with a Downtown venue that will host exhibits and performances.
"We couldn't predict what the creators would bring to show at One Spark, but we couldn't be happier about how the curation process between the creators and the venues worked out," Rivas said.
More than 400 creations are listed on One Spark's website. The tech exhibit roster includes a new aircraft design, animated sculpture, an automatic food rehydration machine, five-toe shoes, a way to "design your own cancer cure," a new energy drink aimed at those who partake in late-night "nerdcore" activities, a social network for bucket lists and "cell cultivation and organogenesis in microgravity."
One Spark's final town hall meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Florida Theatre. Rivas said several creators will be previewing their festival entries and Ron J. Williams, co-founder and CEO of Snapgoods.com, has been invited to give a presentation. The meeting is open to the public and admission is free.
"After the meeting, we're going to leave the theater and walk around the corner for a block party on East Bay Street," said Rivas.
The meeting also is an opportunity to volunteer for One Spark. Rivas said more than 350 people already have signed up to work the event and more volunteers are welcome to register.
"There's no better way to see what One Spark is all about than to be part of it," he said.
To preview the creators, their entries and Downtown festival venues, visit beonespark.com.
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