Origin
Maker Faire is the public event launched by Dale Dougherty (O’Reilly Media) on 22-23 April 2006 in San Mateo, California, as a companion to Make Magazine — the quarterly founded by Dougherty in January 2005 that culturally formalised the term maker.
The format is a fair: booths from individual makers, schools, Fab Labs, hardware companies, hobbyist groups, showcasing real projects. From DIY electronics to hi-tech agriculture, from 3D printing to amateur robotics, from pedal-powered dragon vehicles (Coke Zero Mentos Geyser, flamethrower bikes, steampunk) to children’s soldering classes.
Expansion prospects
After the success of San Mateo 2006, the format is bound to replicate: editions in New York, Austin and other US cities are being discussed, while European hackerspaces watch the model with interest.
Recurring themes
Maker Faire aggregates communities sharing common principles:
- Evolved DIY with modern digital tools
- Open hardware and shared documentation
- Intergenerational — involvement of children (young makers)
- Cross-domain intersection — art + engineering + agriculture + biology
- STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) as an educational model
In the Italian context
The Italian maker scene is still young but active in hackerspaces such as LIFO (Florence) and Frankenstein Garage. The Maker Faire model is being monitored by those who hope to launch an Italian edition in the coming years.
References: Maker Faire (22-23 April 2006, San Mateo). Dale Dougherty, O’Reilly Media. Make Magazine (January 2005).