Creativity and education have always been bosom buddies, as proven by many well-remembered experiences at school. From dressing up as a favourite literary character for an annual Book Day to conceiving science projects and workshopping plays, there were so many moments which revealed what could be achieved when students were given an idea to play with, or were asked to come up with their own ideas out of the blue.

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Indeed, each creation was met with a different result. Just because the crystal radio you collaborated on for Science got a decent mark doesn’t mean the papier mâché ship  you created for History was ever going to pull anchor and discover new territory.

The point, however, is that the educational sphere always allowed me and my peers the opportunity to be creative while learning a little bit more about the world. The problem is that one might view the classroom as the only arena for young students to exercise their creative talents. Fortunately, there are other opportunities beyond the classroom.

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The Cape Town Mini Maker Faire offers an opportunity for creators of all kinds (techies, engineers, artists, crafters, authors and inventors, among others) to connect and show off their talents in a fun, collaborative, educational space.

The event is part of the Maker Faire movement, which owes its inception to the original Maker Faire that launched in San Francisco in 2006. Now known as the ‘Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth’, the movement has seen various instalments around the world over the past decade. And for the second year running, it comes to the Mother City.

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The event promises to feature innovative work by over 60 local Makers, as well as installations by the Faire’s knowledge partners PriceWaterhouseCoopers Western Cape, Stellenbosch University’s Launch Lab, the Cape Innovation and Technology Institute and the University of the Western Cape.

One particular highlight to look forward to is “Jackie & the Makers”, a session by Jackie Burger, notable fashion editor and the founder of Salon 58, and various leading fashion designers, and artisans. This particular feature no doubt reveals the diversity one can expect at the Mini Maker Faire.

No matter your obsession, be it cars, crafts or haute couture, you are more than welcome to come along, learn something new, and maybe share your own ideas.

OF NOTE
When Friday 26 August at 2 pm, Saturday 27 August – Sunday 28 August at 10 am
Where Cape Town Science Centre, 370B Main Road, Observatory
Cost R120 per person for adults, R50 per person for students, R30 per person for children aged four to 12
Contact +27 84 657 5476, [email protected]capetown.makerfaire.com

Photography courtesy Cape Town Mini Maker Faire and Lauren Shantall- Integrated Communications

 

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