Call for Makers

The 2013 Call for Makers is now closed. If you missed the Call for Makers and are interested in participating in Vancouver Mini Maker Faire 2013, contact the maker coordinator directly at: makers@makerfaire.ca
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Vancouver Mini Maker Faire is a community-run event aimed at bringing together Makers, Doers, and Creatives for a weekend of sharing knowledge, inspiring each other, exhibiting projects, and community building. It showcases the amazing work of all kinds and ages of makers – anyone who is embracing the do-it-yourself (or do-it-together) spirit and wants to share their accomplishments with an appreciative audience.

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Vancouver Mini Maker Faire: June 1 & 2, 2013, PNE Forum
Call for Makers Closes: March 25th, 2013
Acceptance Emails sent: April 8th, 2013
Fire & General Safety Plans Due: April 30, 2013

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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 and groups such as hobby clubs and schools. We particularly encourage exhibits that are interactive and that highlight the process of making things. Questions? Email the Maker Co-ordinator at makers@makerfaire.ca

Maker Categories and Fees

Applications can be submitted by individuals, small teams, or larger groups such as hobby clubs, community organizations, schools, and businesses.

Maker – Individual or Collaboration (Booth Fee $25 +HST):
You’re coming to VMMF to show others what you do and how it works. Your exhibit can be something that you designed and built, alone or with friends/collaborators. It could also be a work in progress, a skill or activity you’d like to share, or a demonstration of how an object or system works.

Maker – Group  (Booth Fee: $50 + HST):
Your organization or community group makes things or supports/facilitates making, which can include teaching or sharing skills, providing tools or space, raising the profile of or advocating for maker communities, building community, publishing learning materials, or other activities. Please designate one primary contact person.

Maker Start-up (Booth Fee: $75 + HST):
You’ve designed/invented/built or otherwise created something amazing, and you think it’s marketable.  Congratulations!  Startups and microbusinesses are welcome to apply to this category.

Maker – Commercial (Booth fee $150 + HST):
You run an established business making and selling products, and you would like to sell items at VMMF. To qualify as a Commercial Maker, your products must be assembled locally (relative to you), by your company or by your customers. We encourage you to have a demonstration or hands-on component to your booth. Kits, a DIY bundle with all the parts necessary to make something, are often popular at Maker Faires.

Performers (No booth required):
Musicians and entertainers who would like to perform at Maker Faire

Workshop providers (No booth required):
You want to share knowledge but you don’t want to commit to running a booth all weekend.  You can design and lead one or more short (30-60 min) demonstrations or workshops at the designated workshop area, ideally 2-3 sessions on one of the two days of Maker Faire.

Food & Beverage Vendors
Please see our Food Cart Application page or contact liisa@makerfaire.ca for more information.

How to Apply

Please fill out the >>>Maker Application form <<< to tell us about your project. Note that this is a detailed form and we require you to fill out most of the fields, so please look over the entire form before you start filling it out. If you want to be a maker but do not yet know all the details of your project, then we encourage you to bookmark or print the application form for reference. You have until March 25 to submit your application.

What Happens Next?

Following your submission, you will receive an email confirming that we have your application. If you don’t receive this email within 5 working days, contact makers@makerfaire.ca. This confirmation does not constitute acceptance to Vancouver Mini Maker Faire.

Acceptances will be sent via email by April 8, 2013. Once accepted, you will be asked to complete a Maker Agreement and submit your payment (if applicable). Once we receive your Maker Agreement and payment you will receive your Maker Information Package for 2013.

If your exhibit or display includes open fire of any sort, or anything that might post a risk to the safety of others, you will be required to submit a Fire Safety Plan or General Safety Plan by April 30, 2013, so we can ensure all the proper permits are in place prior to the weekend of Maker Faire.

Other Ways to Participate

Sponsors: For more information on becoming a sposor, please check out our sponsor page or contact us at sponsorship@makerfaire.ca

Volunteer: For more information on volunteering, go to our Volunteer page.

 

Facilities

Vancouver Mini Maker Faire takes place at the PNE Forum. There is over 40 000 sqft of indoor space with additional outdoor space. The indoor space is wide open and has >30′ ceilings. Outdoor space is paved.
A standard Booth Includes:

  • 1 x 8′ table
  • 2 chairs
  • 10′ x 10′ space

 

Alterations to the standard booth can be made based on maker needs. Most alterations (ie. access to electricity, wallspace, indoor vs. outdoor, increased floorspace, darkened area) are possible and free of charge within reason, but may affect your placement on the floorplan.

 

Some of the topics that we are looking for:

Robotics
Electronics
Hacks of Any Sort
Sustainability
Green Tech
Bicycles & Human-Powered Machines
Music Creation, Performance and Participation
3D Printers
Raspberry Pi projects
Installation art
Kites
Puppets
Textile Arts and Crafts
Home Energy Monitoring
Rockets and RC Toys
Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
Electric Vehicles
Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
Food and Beverage Makers
Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.)
Unusual Tools or Machines
How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)
Creation of New Things from Old
Student Projects