Since 2006, SPARKcon has provided an outlet for local creativity to shine, and connected talented and inspiring individuals to the community. What started out as a simple group of imaginative people looking to inspire their community has grown into an annual event that showcases a wide variety of local talent and encourages expression. “SPARKcon is unique in that most conferences will bring in all these out of town speakers and focus on specific topics. SPARKcon has all these amazing things going on,” says N.C. State alumni Matt Huffman. “There are all sorts of ways students can expend there horizons at SPARKcon.”
In its first year, SPARKcon ran with no financial backing. Last year’s show had 63 organizers with hundreds of local talent showcased. This year’s festival has grabbed the attention of many sponsors including the new Raleigh Convention Center and the Visual Art Exchange. With each year, SPARKcon hopes to extend outwards adding new events and new talent to the roster. Hundreds of volunteers work relentlessly both behind the scenes and out front to make each event a success. “It’s driven by volunteers,” says Huffman. SPARKcon runs entirely off of its own sweat, getting funds from sponsors and the wallets of the organizers, and on the steam of its volunteers which are always welcomed.
The festival itself is divided up into different “Sparks” to represent the different aspects of the convention. GraffitiSPARK, danceSPARK, musicSPARK and fashionSPARK are all sections of this year’s show. Each section is then divided up into various events that will run throughout the weekend. FashionSPARK, for example, includes a market, fashion show and afterparty while artSPARK will be having an art sale and an open gallery. A new event will also be making its debut this year. “This is the first year that the festival has a series of events focused on writers and writing,” says N.C. State graduate William Conescu. Conescu, who was the first person to complete the MFA program in Creative Writing, published his first book Sept. 9 entitled “Being Written”. He was invited by a fellow NCSU Alum Greg Behr who is the organizer of storySPARK.
Many students on campus are getting pumped for the upcoming events as well. “I can’t wait for the fashion show,” says Camilla Hinton, sophomore in fashion and textile management. “As a textiles student, I’m really excited to see the fashion Raleigh has to offer.” The conference is also easily accessible to students. Over the course of the weekend, four group bike rides will leave from the bell tower to Moore Square, with a special fashion “ride to impress” group going for tonight’s fashion show.
