Call For Makers: Maker Faire Detroit 2010

We are now accepting entries for the 1st Annual Maker Faire Detroit, July 31 and August 1, 2010 at The Henry Ford. This year’s focus is on Young Makers, and we are excited to be engaging Makers of all ages around innovation, inspiration and education. We look forward to reviewing your application.

Key Points:

• Entry Open Date: March 18, 2010. Please enter early so we can reserve space for your exhibit.
• Entry Close Date: May 31, 2010. Space is limited, please submit your entry by the due date!
• Notification of Acceptance: June 1, 2010.
• Maker Faire Detroit: July 31 – August 1, 2010
  Hours: Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ; Sunday 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Entry Form

Organized by the staff of Make magazine, makezine.com and craftzine.com, Maker Faire is a newfangled fair that brings together science, art, craft and engineering plus music in a fun, energized, and exciting public forum. The aim is to inspire people of all ages to roll up their sleeves and become makers. This family-friendly event showcases the amazing work of all kinds of makers – anyone who is embracing the DIY spirit and wants to share their accomplishments with an appreciative audience.

We encourage you to join the fun and enter a project to exhibit.

Entries

The first step to participating in Maker Faire is to submit an entry that tells us about yourself and your project. Entries can be submitted from individuals as well as from groups such as hobbyist clubs and schools. Please provide a short description of what you make and what you will actually bring to Maker Faire. Please link to photographs or videos of what you make. We particularly encourage exhibits that are interactive and that highlight the process of making things.

Here’s some suggested ideas for topics that we’re looking for:

• Student Projects
• Robotics
• Music Performance and Participation
• 3D Printers and CNC Mill
• Textile Arts and Crafts
• Home Energy Monitoring
• Rockets and RC Toys
• Sustainability
• Green Tech
• Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
• Electronics
• Electric Vehicles
• Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
• Food and Beverage Makers
• Robotics
• Puppets
• Kites
• Bicycles
• Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.)
• Unusual Tools or Machines
• How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)

Maker Exhibit: Our standard setup for a Maker exhibit is roughly a 10×10 space. Use this space to display your work and/or demonstrate how you make something. In Detroit, we are pleased to introduce a new category of maker exhibits – the Tailgate Makers. Drive your car to the Tailgate Maker area and set up from your tailgate or trunk.

Application Form: Please go to the following URL and fill it out the entry form to tell us about your project.

http://makerfaire.com/detroit/2010/entry/

Review the application process by downloading the list of questions.

All proposals will be reviewed and we will notify makers of acceptance via email by June 1, 2010.

NOTE: Makers whose entries are accepted will receive free admission to Maker Faire. However, we cannot pay for transportation and accommodations.

If you have any questions about participating in Maker Faire, please contact us by email: info@makerfaire.com.

Types of Makers who should apply using this process are:

Makers: Individuals, groups, schools and organizations that would like to demonstrate what they make and/or how it works in an interactive environment. For Maker groups, schools & organizations, we ask that you have one point person to coordinate your group efforts. Makers do not pay a fee to exhibit at Maker Faire for non-commercial exhibits.

Commercial Makers: Individuals who would like to sell products along with demonstrating what they make at their Maker exhibit. If you are a Maker that has a product that you would like to sell at Maker Faire, please submit a Maker application and indicate that you are a Commercial Maker. For a basic set-up, there is a fee of $100 to participate at the Commercial Maker level.

Food Makers: Individuals or groups that showcase/demonstrate food products that they make in an interactive environment. Note: If you plan on serving samples, they must be 2 ounces or less. You must comply with Food and Health regulations.

Commercial Food Makers: Individuals pay a fee to show and demonstrate a food product that they make (and plan to sell) in an interactive environment. Samples that are 2 ounces or less may be given away. Prepared packaged foods (defined as food that is not consumed on-site) can be sold. You must comply with Food and Health regulations. For a basic set-up, there is a fee of $50 to participate at the Commercial Food Maker level.

Other Ways to Participate at Maker Faire

Exhibitors and Sponsors: We welcome exhibitors and sponsors at Maker Faire. For more information about becoming an exhibitor or sponsor, please contact us at sales@makerfaire.com.

Volunteer: For information about volunteering at Maker Faire, please contact us at DetroitVolunteers@makerfaire.com.

We look forward to seeing you this summer at Maker Faire Detroit.

Sherry Huss
Director
Maker Faire
O’Reilly Media
sherry@oreilly.com

Do you like to create fun gadgets or just tinker and make something wild out of old spare parts? This might just what your looking for!