The Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership announced Tuesday the launch of EdSpark, an umbrella under which creators with education-related projects will participate in One Spark, The World's Crowdfunding Festival, held April 9-13, in Downtown.
"We couldn't be more excited to become a part of this creative festival," said Deborah Gianoulis Heald, president and CEO of the Schultz Center. "One Spark is an ideal environment for teachers, parents and others interested in innovation in education to bring their ideas, projects, concepts and products to life."
She said the venture also opens One Spark to students under age 18 and gives them "a platform to dream big and out of the box on anything in which they have an interest."
Students must work with an adult mentor on their projects or be a part of a team that includes adults in order to participate in EdSpark.
One Spark Executive Director Joe Sampson said it "makes a lot of sense" for the Schultz Center to curate a venue for education-based projects.
"One Spark is all about connecting ideas to resources, and the belief that those ideas can come from anywhere," he said. "… With $300,000 in guaranteed crowdfunding and juried awards and millions in potential capital funding committed, anything is possible."
EdSpark will have its own venue in a centrally located building in Downtown. Final arrangements for the location are being handled and an announcement will be made shortly.
Creator registration for One Spark, including EdSpark, will run Dec. 1-Jan. 31.
To encourage EdSpark projects and answer questions from teachers, parents, students and others, the Schultz Center will hold an EdSpark Open House from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 7.