Maker Faire was started in San Mateo, California in 2006 where it currently draws nearly 70,000 visitors and over 700 makers for its annual gathering.  In 2010, Maker Faire is expanding to two new venues – Detroit and New York City.  Maker Faire’s mission is to “inspire, inform, connect and entertain thousands of Makers of all ages and backgrounds” through the public gathering of tech enthusiasts, tinkerers, crafters, educators, hobbyists, science clubs, students, authors and some commercial exhibitors. 

The arrival of the Maker Faire on the Detroit innovation “scene” presents a rare and unique strategic partnership opportunity for The Henry Ford.

The Henry Ford, a national historic landmark, is the most visited cultural tourism attraction in Michigan and one of the most visited historical sites in North America.  Founded in 1929 by Henry Ford, it has amassed a collection of artifacts, documents and historic structures that highlight American innovation and inventors, as well as the ordinary people whose daily lives were influenced by new technologies. 

A grant of $250,000 was awarded to The Henry Ford in May 2010 to leverage the 2010 Maker Faire as a tool to fuel local innovative culture.  Some activities made possible with NEI support include:

• A special launch event to familiarize state, regional and local influentials with the event’s purpose and design. 

• Support for the Young Makers Program that will invite high school- aged makers in Detroit to submit their maker project ideas for juried consideration and the chance to showcase their creations at the Maker Faire-Detroit event.

• Evaluation of the Maker Faire Detroit event and recommendations on how to improve in subsequent years.

• Subsidized admissions for up to 500 people, primarily youth, who could otherwise not afford to pay.  The Henry Ford is working with both Focus:HOPE and the United Way of Southeast Michigan to identify recipients for this subsidy.

The Detroit area venue at The Henry Ford will be the only iteration of this event in the Midwest.  It will be held on July 31 and August 1, 2010 on the campus of The Henry Ford.  If successful, The Henry Ford hopes it will become an annual event that will draw thousands of creative makers from throughout the region to showcase their interests and talents.