SPARKcon

SPARKcon will postpone through 2021 and look forward to 2022. Although we are hopeful that we will see significant improvement come summer, we feel it is still better for the health of the city to continue to hold. Also, planning is where we have the most fun, and we just can't be effective or creative doing it all through zoom and social media.

We miss everyone and hope you are finding ways to be creative, have fun and find joy. Stay safe and help others to do the same. The future looks bright. ❤️

There may be no SPARKcon 2020, but the SPARKcon family is still strong! Stay SPARKY, stay safe!

We want YOU to join our LGBTQ+ Musicians Showcase lineup!

This year, we're thrilled to be taking our showcase all online. Rather than one continuous multi-hour showcase like those we have presented in previous years, our showcase will be taking the form of a daily happy hour broadcast to take place Monday, September 29 - Friday, October 2 from approximately 6:00-6:40 PM Eastern time, with one band performing per day.

In particular, we are excited about this opportunity to showcase artists who normally wouldn't be able to attend IBMA. Preference in selections will be given to those acts that are based internationally and/or who include BIPOC members in their lineups.

Are you or your band eligible for our showcase? We want to know about you! Please fill out our online submission form so that we may consider you for the lineup. Submissions are due by the end of the day on September 9!

https://forms.gle/qNG37Mdxo1q9RMqh9

SPARKcon is a community project built by strengthening and expanding personal relationships over the course of a full year and culminating in the large street event it has become known for. In the face of COVID-19, we see that our process runs counter to recommended social distance guidelines. Furthermore, we see many members of our team redirecting their creativity and volunteerism to respond to the current crisis.

As a result, we will pause SPARKcon for 2020 and encourage our folks to continue to help Raleigh get through this crisis and re-imagine a better SPARKcon 2021!

donate or apply

NC ARTIST RELIEF FUND — VAE RALEIGH This fund has been created to support creative individuals who have been financially impacted by gig cancellations due to the outbreak of COVID-19. 100% of donated funds will go directly to artists and arts presenters in North Carolina. Musicians, visual artists, actors, DJ’s, dancers, teaching ar...

SPARKcon showcases the talents of so many creative individuals who often rely on gigs to pay their rent, buy food, and just make ends meet. All of those gigs are being canceled due to the outbreak of COVID-19. If you are able to throw a few bucks in to help, please donate to the NC Artist Relief Fund. 100% of donations will go to artists who are experiencing financial losses due to the global pandemic. If you are an artist who has found themselves in need due to gig cancelations–please fill out the application! We will help as many artists in North Carolina as we can!

NC ARTIST RELIEF FUND — VAE RALEIGH This fund has been created to support creative individuals who have been financially impacted by gig cancellations due to the outbreak of COVID-19. 100% of donated funds will go directly to artists and arts presenters in North Carolina. Musicians, visual artists, actors, DJ’s, dancers, teaching ar...

Todd was a founding member of the SPARKcon family and a bobblehead for many years. His creative spirit, engineer mind, and drive to make Raleigh a weirder, more collaborative, and generous place made him a beloved member of our community. We know many of you will want to pay your respects. Information on his service is below.

Please join us to celebrate the life of Todd Delk

Sunday, November 10, 2019
9:30 - 11:00 am

North Carolina Museum of Art
East Building
2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607

Details:
8:00am - Bike Ride to Service
For those interested, meet at Boulted Bread for a 5-mile ride on Todd’s bike lanes and trails.
See the route - https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1sUvixbybKwPXodJAFeyG4djWakAMvPwr&shorturl=1&ll=35.79117476372347%2C-78.67626999999999&z=14

9:30am - Service Gathering

10:00am - 11:00am - Memorial Service
Service held in NCMA Museum Auditorium, East Building

2:30pm - 5:30pm - Informal Gathering at London Bridge Pub
Grab a pint and share a story at Todd’s favorite place to watch soccer
Located at 110 E Hargett St, Raleigh

Donations in Todd’s memory can be made to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at http://bit.ly/trailsfortodd

Make a Donation Check this out! I just made a donation to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to support their year end fund raising efforts. You should too! Check out their website here

The dedicated street painters at SPARKcon xiv putting on the finishing touches on the last day.
📸: @ Warehouse District

SPARKcon xiv Aerial dance workshop for kids and adults with
📸: @ Cirque De Vol

showcase with
📸:

Bike polo games with
📸: Kaitlin Suggs @ Humble Pie Raleigh

Saturday’s SPARKcon xiv programming brought us Open mic night with and where a wide range of creative voices from novice-to-experienced presented their poetry, spoken word and short fiction piece. @ VAE Raleigh

The poetry on demand with
📸 @ CAM Raleigh

designSPARK + inkSPARK’s live draw event.
📸

Aerial silks showcase with
📸 @ Warehouse District

Street painting with
📸 @ Warehouse District

Hoop Jam with
📸 @ Warehouse District

Check out which squares were awarded Best in Show for creativity, technique, and design!

artSPARK — SPARKcon Follow artSPARK on social media or contact the SPARK lead for more information on participating or volunteering with artSPARK.

at the fire conclave.
📸

Poetry on demand with

Hoop Jam with
📸 by Tom Barta @ Warehouse District

Scale Up with designSPARK
📸 by Kaitlin Suggs @ CAM Raleigh

Aerial showcase with
📸 @ Warehouse District

Dance showcase with
📸 @ Warehouse District

Raleigh Rocker’s with danceSPARK bringing out the crowds on Sunday.
📸 @ Warehouse District, Durham

Street painting with artSPARK
📸 @ Warehouse District

circusSPARK’s fashion show.
📸 @ Warehouse District

Hip Hop workshop with
📸

Fan veils with and
📸

The Raleigh Rocker’s
📸 @ Warehouse District

circusSPARK’s Fire Show
📸 @ Warehouse District

Screen printing with designSPARK
📸 Kaitlin Suggs @ CAM Raleigh

Bike Polo
📸: Tom Bart’s @ HUMBL

High fives all around!

icont.ac

SPARKcon Day 3 is underway, y'all! Check out what's on the docket for the last day of the event!

Last day of SPARKcon! The festival looks pretty different this year in Raleigh's Warehouse District, but everything you love about it remains the same--it's still a FREE celebration of all things creative like dance, music, theatre, robots, art, poetry, circus + more!

Last day of SPARKcon XIV! Make VAE Raleigh your first stop for all the info you need to get the most of out of your SPARKTASTIC weekend!

SPARKcon connects our creative community! Know what else connects our community? Google Fiber Triangle! Thanks to them for their Flare level sponsor of SPARKcon XIV!

High Speed Internet Provider in Raleigh-Durham, NC | Google Fiber The Internet service provider offering more super fast 1 gig internet in The Triangle, NC than ever before. No data caps. No annual contracts. Sign up today!

Every year people tell us that walking the footprint with coffee on Sunday to see all of the chalk art is their favorite part of SPARKcon! Grab a coffee at Videri Chocolate Factory or Heirloom Brewshop and see all the art! Then grab brunch at Humble Pie Raleigh 11am-2pm!

Our friends at Allen Tate Raleigh - Glenwood have been longtime supports of VAE Raleigh! We are so excited that they are helped us find a new home for SPARKcon this year by supporting at the Flare Sponsor level! Need to find your new home? Call Allen Tate Realtors!

allentate.com