Maker Faire comes to the UK: Newcastle, March 14-15

Josette from O'Reilly sez, "Call for makers! It is now official the long awaited first UK Maker Faire will take place in Newcastle, UK on March 14th-15th! Maker Faire seeks to inspire, inform, connect and entertain thousands of Makers and aspiring Makers of all ages and backgrounds through the public gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, students, authors and commercial exhibitors."

Maker Faire seeks to inspire, inform, connect and entertain thousands of Makers and aspiring Makers of all ages and backgrounds through the public gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, students, authors and commercial exhibitors.
The first UK Maker Faire will take place in Newcastle 14-15 March 2009 as part of Newcastle ScienceFest - a 10 day festival celebrating creativity and innovation.
In the last decade Newcastle has joined forces with neighbouring Gateshead and has transformed itself into one of Europe's most exciting places. Architectural icons such as the gigantic Angel of the North (whose 54m wingspan is longer than a jumbo jet!) best symbolises the region's unquenchable thirst for creativity and sense of fun.

Maker Faire, Newcastle, UK 14-15 March 2009 (Thanks, Josette!)

Discussion

Take a look at this

#1 posted by ian_mxyz , January 6, 2009 8:37 AM

I'll check out the Science Fest but it might be worth a trip . . .

#2 posted by greensteam , January 6, 2009 8:51 AM

Make and Do, Show and Tell in Scotland 14th March
(AKA McMADSAT maker fair)

There is also a similar event at the Glasgow Science centre on 14th March, but O'reillys would only sponsor one event in the UK and for some reason we arent the one, so we cannot call it a/the UK "Maker Faire" even though that is what it is.
There are spaces for 20 makers to show and share what they can do. Free to makers. All hands-on workshops will be free to visitors to the Glasgow Science centre. Expecting some steampunk makers, a theremin making workshop and some architectural cardboard structures amongst others.
To sign up to participate or know more, go to http://mcmadsat.blogspot.com

#3 posted by Gilbert Wham , January 6, 2009 9:56 AM

Excellent! I'll be there.

#4 posted by demidan , January 6, 2009 10:47 AM

That would be a great place for a Makers faire! One questiion though, seeing that Newcastle is still at war with Russia (oops via treaty of Versaille), would Russians be aloud?

#5 posted by xine , January 6, 2009 11:49 AM

Always nice to see my hometown given a little bit of love! I'll definitely be having a look.

And even though it'll fill me with self-loathing, I've got to be a pedant and mention that it was Berwick-Upon-Tweed that was at war with Russia, and it was repealed in something like 2002... I'm sorry. I'll go and put my head in a bucket now for being such a fanny.

#6 posted by demidan , January 6, 2009 12:05 PM

Thanks Xine, been a while since i have been there and I seem to remember a plaque at an old city gate (in New Castle) proclaing the war with with Russia. I will have to let Phil at Campy know about the impending invasion!

#7 posted by jmtd , January 7, 2009 6:22 AM

I'm stunned that something interesting and worthwhile is happening in my fair city.

@2: It is a real shame that your event and this one are scheduled for the same day. I don't know who was first (apparently this one is organised by ncl uni? I don't know anything about it and I work for the ncl uni IT department) but regardless it seems having two events with the same remit in reasonably close geographic proximity (at a national scale) is a terrible idea, if it splits the attendance down the middle.

#8 posted by Ian Simmons , January 8, 2009 3:58 AM

This one is being organised by Newcastle Science Festival, based at the Centre for Life, along with Discovery, Culture10 and Make, rather than the University, which is why it won't have been heard about via university channels first, but we'd love to have you involved.

#9 posted by greensteam , January 10, 2009 1:02 AM

#7 & 8 I am sure the Newcastle folks would be the first to agree that this is just one of those things and is mainly an example of Zeitgeist taking hold. I dont feel we are competing but merely demonstrating that the two cities are very similar with their engineering histories and a generally practical outlook on life.

When I started organising the Glasgow event, back last year, I immediately contacted maker.com and they said nothing about the Newcastle one and I only heard about it well after venue was booked and early publicity started. Initially we were on different dates but then the Newcastle one moved to the same weekend as the Glasgow one, which is perhaps a little unfortunate, but never mind.

UK boingboing readers will appreciate what might not be so obvious to those in the USA accustomed to travelling much longer distances: I would be extremely surprised if people either city took the trouble to travel to the other city for such an event. I am sure that the participants and public in both locations will have loads of fun whatever.

Although Oreillys are not officially sponsoring the Glasgow event (McMADSAT maker fair)they are being very supportive and have sent a very heavy box of Make magazines and other goodies which I know will be much appreciated by our participants. Lets hope that there will be loads more make-and-do/show-and-tell events in the UK.