One Spark 2016 will be a one-day festival sometime in early April.
That was the announcement made this morning by Chris Byers, festival chief operating officer.
Admitting he would have to be “somewhat vague” ahead of a formal announcement “in a week, or maybe two,” Byers said the festival will be different than the downsized version of the event announced a few months ago.
Last year’s festival was six days, including the opening day speaker series.
Byers assured attendees at Downtown Vision Inc.’s quarterly stakeholder meeting the festival will happen again. “We are absolutely planning to have an event this April,” he said.
He also said the deadline for exhibitors to register has been pushed back from Friday to the end of February.
The registration process is being changed to make it simpler and more open, but a yet to-be-determined limit on the number of exhibits will be maintained, as will the jury process to select which projects will be showcased.
“However many we end up announcing will be the best they can be,” he said.
After three years of losing money, organizers are making what Byers called a “late pivot” that hopefully will lower the risk and increase the chance of stability.
The prize structure will remain based on contributions to projects from attendees, unless a sponsor comes forward.
“We are not in a place to be able to offer prizes,” said Byers.
A new incentive plan for exhibitors will be part of the upcoming announcement.
“I think the creators will be no less happy than they were,” he said.
@DRMaxDowntown
(904) 356-2466