Make. Create. Craft. Build. Play.
This is Maker Faire’s ethos. It’s a fair that brings people together and ideas together.
But just like VICs and all other tourism bodies and events, creativity and human connectedness are extremely important. The important questions still need to be answered, like ‘are we relevant?’
We spoke to Alison Kershaw, the organiser of Maker Faire Adelaide. She shared with us some of the must do’s for organisations who are not only curating creative events for their communities, but want to adopt a more visionary approach to corporate events.
There are hundreds of events, conferences and workshops out there, so how can you bring a new perspective to yours? Here’s how Alison approaches it.
It’s about the vision
Maker Faire Adelaide was born from a diverse community of people who had a genuine interest in making cool items. The event has grown from a group of people that were driven to share interesting things that were made from their kitchen tables. Where else could you have the Australian Dalek Builders Union and the Hand weavers and Spinners Guild of SA on the same bill?
There is a commitment in teaching others, but also learning and sharing of ideas and knowledge amongst people – who didn’t share these same interests. Maker Faire Adelaide has served as a space for exhibitors to make genuine connections with others, through the sharing of ideas.
The event is focused on celebrating the beautiful, but also the out there and unexpected talent that is often born from people’s kitchen tables. The sorts of talent that’s often kept ‘inside the home.’
Maker Faire celebrates innovation, no matter what the scale. It proves that change and revolution isn’t just about large corporates and applications. There’s a broader, more encompassing story to what innovation can be for people and their communities.
Celebrating the unusual
Alison believes standing out is about sharing the unusual, common purpose and common passions. Maker Faire, for example, celebrates the continual slaving away that too often is overlooked in the most celebrated of entrepreneurial journeys.
While some of the makers will continue to inhabit co-working spaces and adopt an entrepreneurial approach to their ideas, many will stay working away on the kitchen table – continuing to delight in the conversations and connections that are made through events like Maker Faire Adelaide.
She encourages all organisers to consider how they want to position their next event, workshop or conference, to stand out.
Evolving the current experience you’re delivering to your participants is critical to having a greater impact.
Kiikstart would like to thank Alison for her insights and brain space. Kiikstart is all about building better businesses through creative, more impactful experiences – it’s all about the people and the place.
If you’d like to hear more about what we do, contact us today on 0428 593 400 or enquiries@kiikstart.com.