This spring, One Spark 2015 transformed downtown
Jacksonville into a drawing board for artists, entrepreneurs,
storytellers, doers, shakers and movers. One Spark’s weeklong 2015 festivities kicked off in April to record-breaking
attendance and donations.
The crowdfunding festival’s success comes as no surprise;
since its launch in 2013, One Spark has continually brought
Jacksonville’s most innovative thinkers together as Creators,
Jurors, Venues and visitors downtown. This year saw more
than 325,000 people, upwards of 500 Creator projects and
approximately $93,000 in donations, according to organizers.
“It’s a blast,” said Chloe Taylor, One Spark 2015 attendee.
“Locals love to come downtown for a day to enjoy the highenergy atmosphere, and the creators finally get a chance to
pitch that idea that they are so passionate about.”
The festival, which lasts five days, runs as an idea launch pad
for creators. The projects are first placed in one of six categories
—art, education, health & science, music, social good and
technology. Then, each creator’s project is strategically matched
to a spot in downtown Jacksonville where they host their idea
and pitch it to any of the 320,000+ One Spark attendees that
will listen.
Several Creators took home awards for their Projects,
include a history-making $32,001.11 for the Yoga 4 Change,
the most any single Creator has ever won in awards and prize
money, and $15,000 for each of six juried award-winners.
The Grey Area, Getting Early Engineers Ready for Success,
Obesity Treatment and Prevention for Tweens, Future Music
Makers Youth Enrichment Program, The Fastest Way to
First Coast Register | June - July 2015 29