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Announcements

Union Station Announces Maker Faire: Kansas City June 28-29, 2014

NOW is the time for area inventors, techies, entrepreneurs and ‘idea people’ to claim their FREE BOOTH at Kansas City’s Maker Faire: 2014

KANSAS CITY, MO … Calling all entrepreneurs, innovators, inventors and artists. Maker Faire: Kansas City, the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth and a showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness wants YOU to be a part of one of the biggest Maker Faires in the world June 28-29 at Union Station Kansas City.

The call for 2014 Makers is open now through May 23, 2014. Makers who would like to demonstrate their projects at Kansas City’s Maker Faire, June 28-28, are invited to complete the application available online at www.makerfairekc.com/application.

Maker Faire: Kansas City celebrates things people create themselves as science enthusiasts, tech hackers, robot designer/builders, Lego architects, independent manufacturers, urban farmers, graphic and visual artists, food artisans textile and clothing designers, photographers and woodworkers. Many school and university clubs, Scouts and other youth makers get involved by demonstrating their projects, too.  This family-friendly event attracts over 12,000 visitors and demonstrates what and how people are inventing, making and creating. It brings together Makers, Crafters, Inventors, Hackers, Scientists and Artists for a faire full of fun and inspiration.

“Our community and surrounding areas are rich in entrepreneurs,” said Bob Regnier, chairman of the board, Union Station, said. “That is why for the 4th year Kansas City will take its rightful place alongside the Bay Area (San Mateo), New York, Detroit, Rome, Tokyo and the UK as one of the largest Maker Faires in the world. And where does it all take place? At Union Station, because this is where Kansas City comes to Connect, Create, Discover & Celebrate!” 

Makers demonstrating their projects do not have to pay for a booth at the event, but do commit to presenting hands-on Maker activities throughout the weekend of activities. A selected number of commercial Makers who plan to sell a product will be invited to be part of the Faire; and the commercial Makers will pay a small fee to be there. To secure a booth, Makers are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Additional details about this year’s Maker Faire can be found at www.makerfairekc.com. 
 

“Last year we had over 350 booths for Makers and we anticipate even more this year,” George Guastello, president and CEO of Union Station, said. “The great thing is that even after the weekend is over, Kansas City’s inventive minds now have a place to create inside our new, permanent Maker Studio inside Kansas City’s Science Center, Science City, where we also offer workshops and programs to students and individuals throughout the year.”

Kansas City’s Maker Faire will feature a wide variety of Makers, and will also offer a number of special activities all weekend long in Science City to encourage young people to get involved in making things. Young Makers are encouraged to sign up to demonstrate their projects and to be part of the Faire.

In addition to Maker exhibits, key attractions, such as the Power Wheels Racing Series, will be featured throughout the weekend. Many of the attractions and presentations are still being finalized now. Visit www.makerfairekc.com in coming weeks for a full schedule of special attractions and featured Makers at this year’s festival. Tickets for the festival will go on sale in May through Union Station’s online and on-site box office. The festival will run on Saturday, June 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

About Union Station Kansas City, Inc. 
 About Union Station Kansas City, Inc. Union Station Kansas City is a historical landmark and civic asset renovated and reopened to the public in 1999. The organization, driven by its mission of science and history education and entertainment, features a science center, the popular Model Railroad Experience open year round, new planetarium, one of the region’s largest screen movie theaters, live theater, shops, restaurants and home to prominent area civic organizations and businesses. Visit unionstation.org for details. Union Station was named the Kansas City’s favorite landmark and as one of the top five museums and attractions in Kansas City by the KCCVA Visitors’ Choice Awards. Science City was named the favorite museum by KC Parent magazine.

About Maker Faires: 
Maker Faire: Kansas City is an event organized by Union Station, with support from area organizations and businesses, including the Kauffman Foundation and Time-Warner Cable. It is guided by Maker Media, a subsidiary organization of O’Reilly Media and MAKE Magazine, which oversees and licenses Maker Faires around the world. Maker Faire is the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth—a family-friendly festival of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker movement. The goal of Maker Faires everywhere is to bring together Makers, Crafters, Inventors, Scientists, and Artists for a faire full of fun and inspiration.

 

The launch of Maker Faire in the Bay Area in 2006 demonstrated the popularity of making and interest among legions of aspiring makers to participate in hands-on activities and learn new skills at the event. A record 165,000 people attended the two flagship Maker Faires in the Bay Area and New York in 2012, with 44% of attendees first timers at the Bay Area event, and 61% in New York. A family event, the vast majority attend with children. In 2013, over 60 community-driven Mini Maker Faires are expected around the world, including Tokyo and Rome.

Maker Faire is primarily designed to be forward-looking, showcasing makers who are exploring new forms and new technologies. But it’s not just for the novel in technical fields; Maker Faire features innovation and experimentation across the spectrum of science, engineering, art, foods, performance and craft. Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. It’s a venue for makers to show examples of their work and interact with others about it. Many makers say they have no other place to share what they do. DIY (Do-It-Yourself) is often invisible in our communities, taking place in shops, garages and on kitchen tables. It’s typically out of the spotlight of traditional art or science or craft events. Maker Faire makes visible these projects and ideas that we don’t encounter every day.

Maker Faire is brought to you by Maker Media. Maker Media publishes MAKE magazine, produces Maker Faire, and offers DIY electronics, tools, kits, and books through its online and pop-up Maker Shed stores.

About the Maker Movement: 
The Maker Movement is generating traction all around the world, as there are now two very large annual Maker Faires in San Mateo, CA and New York City. Kansas City hosts one of the next largest Maker Faires, and is highlighted on the MakerFaire.com website as one of four Featured Faires, due to the number of Makers and attendance that Kansas City’s faire draws. More than 60 smaller Mini Maker Faires are now sponsored in communities around the world.

A May 21, 2012 article in Forbes magazine explains how the large San Mateo Maker Faire now attracts thousands of visitors, but that it also is attracting the attention of mainstream manufacturing giants. “For those who don’t know it, Maker Faire champions the growth of small-scale domestics and individual manufacturing. It brings the developer approach, born in software, to the business of making things. It is manufacturing with hacker flair,” wrote Haydn Shaughnessy. He ends the article by saying, “The back story is huge disruption. The headline is a huge number of people are now involved in the maker movement, ready and willing to create a new way of business.