Making a Maker Fair

MAKING A MAKER FAIROr:how to rally excitement for STEAM in your community in a few easy steps!

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FIND AND SEEK YOUR COMMUNITY

Events can happen in a community of any size, but the topic has to be relevant and important for it to ultimately be successfulIdentify your partners both colleagues and volunteers inside the library, and organizations outside. 2

WHATS YOUR VISION

Portland Public Library will be the civic and cultural center of a dynamic region in which citizens are literate, informed and .

engaged

The Library will provide resources and experiences that inspire imagination, curiosity, awareness, and learning.

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START @ HOME

About cultivating an interest and thirst for this type of activity on staffInterest group, etc

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THINK ABOUT OUTPUTSStart somewhere

September April

Be realistic

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SKETCH SOME OUTCOMES(hint: outcomes are not just for funders)

This will help drive your presenters and content, and provides an overarching theme

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PPLS MAKER PROBLEMTraditionally:a Maker Space is for creationanda Maker Fair is for sharing

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PPLS MAKER SOLUTION

Makers@PPL:A yearly event that invites community makers to create and share their skills with the community to afford people opportunities to new learn skills

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PITCHING YOUR PROGRAM

The Maker Movement is a technology-based extension of DIY culture, that integrates hacking, tinkering, exploring, and creating.

How do you find presentersCommunity partners are keySubject areas9

IS IT FAIR TO CALL IT A FAIRE?

Makers@PPL

Maker Faire

Discussion on MAKE trademark and Faire vs FairOther people use branding like: maker fair, Festival of Curiosity, DIY Festival

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WHO IS WHOEach distinct group supporting the event is important to define.

Audience: People who come to the event

Presenters: People who share their skill at the event

Sponsors: People or organizations who financially support the event

Staff: People who work at your organization helping to prepare for the event

Volunteers: People outside of your organization who are helping at the event

So, youre ready to go.11

NO MONEY, NO PROBLEM

Audience: Free!

Presenters: Budget could be sought to cover:Materials used to allow audience to participateParking and/or travelSnacks (maybe lunch someday)

Staff: Monday holiday the week of the event helps off set extra hours

Volunteers: Free!

But yes, you will probably need some money. But less then you probably think.

Decide in advance how youre going to structure presenters. Presenters shouldnt have to contribute personal funds to attend, but need not be paid for their time. They should want to be here. Presenters who are also sponsors might get special treatment. 12

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$PON$OR$Goldsmith Sponsor ($2,500) Silversmith Sponsor ($1,000)Coppersmith Sponsors ($500)Blacksmith Sponsor ($250)

dont forget about possible grants and in-kind donations

Grant from Margaret E. Burnham charitable trustIn-kind: all presenters (time for all, materials for many), some T-Shirt printing costs, some tent rentals

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HOW WE DID IT: MAKERS@PPL

Planning team: Anyone on staff who wants to help

Executive planning team: One director, a few (if possible!) presenter leaders, one sponsorship manager, & one graphics manager

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HOW WE DID IT: MAKERS@PPLPick a date 6+ months away

Commit resources, reserve spaces, start the asks

Limitations and capacity

Smaller events might be fine with less planning timeEarly and late meetings to settle on logistics, middle meetings less important

50 presenters is a good number to shoot for (square feet @ PPL year 1: 5560, year 2: 8500)

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HOW WE DID IT: MAKERS@PPL

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82 tabled presenters3 roaming presentersEveryone always wants lots of space, flexible space needs

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HOW WE GOT THEREOpen call for presenters Info you need from presenters:EverythingBuilding expertiseInsurance riders

Open call for presenters, build momentum and interest, and eventually, prestige

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FAILURE IS DEFINITELY AN OPTIONChaos is your only certainty

Building layout and weather conditions

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WHY

Fun & Games = Learning?

When you think about it, STEAM is at the heart of everything20

LESSONS LEARNED: YEAR 1Timed workshops dont work wellDrop in tables work best

Directional assistance is crucialAudience counting is trickyOutdoor structures require building permits!

Timed workshops should be very limited

Drop in tables work best

Directional assistance crucial

Audience counting is tricky

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MAKERS@PPL 2015

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INTEGRATING LESSONS FOR YEAR 2Graphics work started sooner, saved a lot of money!

Increase space2015: 5,600 sq. ft. 2016: 8,500 sq. ft

More presenters, less workshopsCommunication challenges: 82+ organizations, 35+ staff members, 20+ volunteers & others

Graphics work, Print LESS than you think youll need

Increase space

More presenters, less workshops

Communication is made a bit easier when it is streamlined23

LESSONS LEARNED: YEAR 2Empty tables are sad tables

Social media hungry participants and presentersFood hungry presentersPresenter agreements and waivers

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MAKERS@PPL 2016

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MAKING YOUR MAKER FAIRMini maker fairpartnershipsTopical interestsBuild staff STEAM confidenceNon-School learning

Small communities = more experimentation and more personalized to the interests and skills people have thereMonthly eventsMini maker fairPartnering with other towns or schools

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DONT BE AFRAID

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NO 3D PRINTER, NO PROBLEM

But you cant print a maker fairMaker fairs can be low techSewing, canning and preserving, print making, arts projects, sustainability projects, traditional science, food!, knot tying, lock picking, 28

THANK YOU!

Questions?

Samantha DuckworthDuckworth@PortlandPublicLibrary.org

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Information Table

Maine Tool Library

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Pendulum Sand Painting 10:001:00

Cornerstones of Science

Bristle Bots 10:3011:30

Childrens Museum & Theatre of Maine

Intro to Canning and Freezing

UMaine Cooperative Extension

Calligraphy Workshops (please register in

the Portland Room, max. 12 people/session)

10:3012:00 & 1:002:30

Map Making 1:30-3:30

Molly Maps

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Flag Book Workshop 1:153:15

Peg Richard

Making Prints

Peregrine Press

Laser Cutter Art

Open Bench Member

E-Textiles: Electronics & Textile

Creation Open Bench Member

Little River Workshops

Ann Thompson

Business Card Cubes

Zev Eisenberg

Window Inserts

Window Dressers

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Information Table

Maine Charitable Mechanic Assn.

Tech and Design Thinking

Gould Academy

Make T-Shirt Grocery Bags 1:003:00

Portland Food Co-op & Stitch HIVE

Repurposed Wood Longboards

Sad Lumberjack

Candle Making

Wendell Family

Knot Tying

Sail Maine

Handmade Kitchen Tools

Open Bench Project

Coffee Brewing

Coffee By Design

Raw Materials That Go Into Gin, Rum,

Rye and Bourbon New England Distilling

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Baking & Measuring: Pie Parfait

Two Fat Cats Bakery 12:002:00

Fermentation

Jeremy Bloom

Intro to Coding in Scratch 10:001:00

Amy Kerr

BetsyRo Demo & Raspberry Pi

Libre Tech. Training & Development

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DNA Barcoding

iXplore STEM

Display & Information

Texas Instruments

Raspberry Pi Cookbooks

Zoe Lang

Information Table

Maine Science Festival

Pick Your Own Snack

Genevieve Johnson

Greeting Cards & Dryer Balls 10:00-4:00

Youth Enterprise Zone

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Duct Tape Demos 10:0012:00

Sydney Grimm

Planting Seedlings

PPL Staff

CSA Caf 10:002:00

Breakwater School

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Lincoln Middle School

Thors Hammer: Makeable Weapons

Kelly Hodgkins

Plastic Bag Creations

Nancy Lynch

Pop-up Cards 10:002:00

Anastasia Weigle

Dixie Cup Speakers

Casco Bay High School

STEM Literacy & 3D Printing

Maine State Library

CAD Software & 3D Printing

Darren Tilley

3D Printing & Laser Cutting

Maine FabLab

Remote Control Robots

C-Link Systems

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Space Shuttle Command Center,

DIY Synthesizer & Danger Squid Game

Open Bench Project

2 3D Scanning & Printing

Open Bench Project

Soldering

Open Bench Project

4 Video Games: Abysm & Project Crab Boss

Baxter Academy Students

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Cupcake Decorating Party

Landrys Confections

Backyard Beekeeping 3:304:30

The Honey Exchange

Growing Your Own Food in a Small Space

Natural Resources Council of Maine

Essential Oils

Love & Oil

Pollinators & Native Plants, Mason Bee

Houses, and Planting Milkweed

Longfellow Garden Club

Mushroom Log Inoculation

NorthSpore

Planting Native Seeds 12:004:00

Wild Seed Project

Drawing Robot

Yarn & Hack Portland

Wood Signs

Open Bench Member

Building Furniture

Open Bench Member

Lock Picking

TOOOL

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Renewable Energy Certificates

Maine Green Power

Civic Makers

Code for Maine

Free Chair Massage

Mindy Ray

3D Printed Hand Making

Limitless Child International

UP (Unlimited Possibilities) Room

Maine State Library HK 4/22

Coloring Books & Mindfulness Bottles

PPL Staff

This exhibit is outside in the

Makers@PPL tent in Monument

Square.

Lost? Makers@PPL staff are

wearing red MAKER T-shirts

and are happy to point you in

the right direction.

This event is taking place only

during a set time. All other

exhibits and events are open

all day, 10:005:00.

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Color Your Own Star Wars Armor

Mandalorian Mercs

6 Aquarium Science

New England Aquarium Services

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12 Grafting Skills Portersfield Cider & Maine Heritage Orchard Project

11 FiAxZ & Telescope

Baxter Academy Students

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8 Expeditions (ages 7+) 10:002:00

Google

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14 Space: A Journey to Our Future

Portland Science Center

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Rice Planting Hats

Friends of Aomori

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3 Teamwork Instant Challenges

Maine Destination Imagination

Axe Restoration

Open Bench Member 19

Quadcopter

Open Bench Member 24

Everyones an Engineer

UMaine Cooperative Ext. (4H Science)

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20 Custom Light Sabers

Open Bench Member

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8 Rubia: A Stop Motion Experience

Baxter Academy Student

12 Wireless Sensors

Baxter Academy Student

Ghostbusting Gadgets

Maine Ghostbusters 26

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Main Entrance

Elm

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Entr

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Quiet Area

CONGRESS ST.

to Monument Square Tent

PORTLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY | 5 MONUMENT SQUARE | PORTLAND, ME 04101 | 207.871.1700 | PORTLANDLIBRARY.COM

ELM

ST.

Kerem Durdag

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All locations are approximate.

Map is not drawn precisely to scale.

Lost? Makers@PPL staff are wearing

red MAKER T-shirts and are happy to

point you in the right direction.

Restrooms

Family Restrooms Wheelchair Access

Drinking Fountain

Elevators

Welcome to the second

Makers@PPL maker fair!

We are thrilled to host over 80 workshops and exhibits

today, covering topics in science & technology, arts &

design, food & nature, and DIY, including events for

and by kids and teens. What will you make?

MAKER STORE

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CONGRESS ST.

ELM

ST.

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Enter our free raffle in the Rines

Auditorium or in Monument Square for

gift certificates, tickets, and more!

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