Miami will hold its first Maker Faire Nov. 16. Sponsored by the Knight Foundation, the Miami Mini Maker Faire has already attracted more than 60 makers. The event is an initiative of MIAMade, an organization dedicated to supporting the local maker community,
“Miami has a lot of untapped tech talent and new entrepreneurs focused on areas like hardware, robotics and 3D printing. But to have a positive social impact they need more opportunities to showcase ideas and build relationships,” said Matt Haggman, Knight Foundation program director in Miami. “The Miami Mini Maker Faire is one part of a plan to build a sense of community among these local makers and connect them with a larger global movement.”
About 1,000 people are expected to attend . The fair will include talks, presentations, panel discussions, and short film screenings at three main locations in Miami’s Wynwood district: The LAB Miami, The Lightbox at Goldman Warehouse and O Cinema. The larger South Florida community is also invited to learn more about the maker movement through information and educational sessions and meetups. These will be designed for people of all ages and knowledge levels.
“The Miami Mini Maker Faire provides makers specializing in DIY technology, arts and crafts with a unique opportunity to show what they have made and to share what they have learned with the community at large,” said MIAMade Co-founder, Ric Herrero. “It will serve as a bellwether for how far we’ve come as a creative community, and how far we have yet to go.”
Meanwhile, the Miami Herald carried a front page story yesterday on the growth of the maker movement and makerspace scene in south Florida.Support for the Miami Mini Maker Faire is part of the Knight Foundation’s efforts to inform citizens and create new opportunities by strengthening Miami’s entrepreneurial and creative community.
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