SPARK CON starts Thurs., Sept 20 and goes through the weekend (Sept 23). Like to cook chili? Enter the Chili Spark competition (broken link), or just come out to taste the competitors' chilis. Check out all the various other creative "sparks". This is a grass roots event that hasn't been funded by the city and has been completely organized and funded by creative individuals in our community (one of which I happen to know very well). So come out and support local creativity!
From the website:
What is SPARK CON?
Arts • Business • Culture • Technology...it’s all a part of what makes the Triangle area of North Carolina a nationally ranked creative area. Yep. Our community gets accolades left and right, stating in a variety of ways that the Triangle has become one of the most creative places to live in the country. We boast exceptional talent on a wide field—from pharmaceutical patents to rock bands. But ask a local what the identity of the Triangle is, and you’ll find a creative person struggling for an answer.
From that struggle in 2006, a group of creative and community-minded people started meeting together to put a stake in the ground, and claim the Triangle as "The Creative Hub of the South." Starting with no financial or managerial backing, the group designed a weekend of showcases to celebrate the creative pursuits going on in the area, and a series of workshops and speakers to nurture the growth and sustainability of our creative future. That 1st weekend was named SPARK CON. It happened in September, 2006, and was an exciting and inspiring success.
Now it's time for SPARK CON 2007. We're still just a loose association of passionate individuals, still grass roots, without a staff, without a city budget, without a big corporate backer. Our money comes from our pockets and the pockets of other individuals and companies who are excited about the creativity of the Triangle area. The ideas and showcases come from inspired people who have the ingenuity to say "What if...?" and the motivation to then make it happen.
SPARK CON grows every time a new person gets involved with a SPARK. They can create their own SPARK, or they can join in to help an existing one. It's an open-source, "for the people, by the people" approach to an incredible series of events. It's definition and focus is dynamic. In 2007, we have over 40 volunteer organizers developing these events.