WHEN: The 2022 WHAT IF Festival is September 10, 2022, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

WHO: Entrepreneurs, business owners, scientists, engineers, makers, health professionals, students, educators, corporations, garage geeks, artists, musicians, performers, inventors, designers, gardeners, chefs, marketing pros, start ups ...

WHAT: What IF… A Festival of Innovation and Imagination invites you to propose an “Experience” (an exhibit, an experiment, an activity, a unique collaboration, etc. that creates an important experience for the viewer/participant).  An Experience can either

-- Demonstrate your organization's or your own innovation/creativity/imagination, or  
-- Encourage innovation/creativity/imagination by the Festival-goers.  

Importantly, we invite proposals for an Experience in any domain/discipline: arts, technology, business, education, culinary, retail, health, sports/recreation, environment, ranching, gardening/farming, etc. We encourage inventions devised in your garage, or new processes for doing things. We love creativity and/or imagination in ANY domain!

For example, Experiences might:

• Demonstrate an innovative process, innovative product, or both. Have you been inventing/building something amazing that the region should know about?  Perhaps use the Festival to gain feedback.
• Show collaboration between/among surprising partners, such as among multiple usually unrelated businesses, or between technology and art, or ranching and dancing, or …??
• Span different cultures or geographical areas.
• Result in a presentation, play, interactive exhibit, installation, or some completely unexpected interactive Experience.  DO NOT constrain your idea!  Challenge us to find the perfect place in our highly flexible Festival footprint.

SPECIAL EMPHASIS: Over the past two years we've all had to be creative through the pandemic, often just to survive, both personally and organizationally.  So, we suggest you use the Festival this year to show the creative ways you found to address the challenges of the pandemic.  Note that this is a suggestion, not a requirement.

FEES and OTHER REQUIREMENTS:  If your Experience is approved, we require three things before the Festival:

1) Signed Contract:  We will send you a contract and Festival-day logistics package. Please carefully read the contract you are provided and return it promptly.

2) Participant Fee:   We collect participant fees for EACH Experience to cover some of our costs for producing the event – street closures, security, barricades, marketing, printing, electricity, cleaning, trash, etc.  (Note: Fees increase for applications after August 15.)  

 - $150 for a minimum of 10 x 10 space outside or one of the limited inside spaces; you provide your own tent and tables, or  
 - $350 for your space with a professional-quality tent and table installed for you by tent rental company.

Notes regarding fees:
-- ENTREPRENEURS: Reduced fees are available for certain entrepreneurs.  See the application.
-- Sponsorship levels with Experience Fees included are available. See Sponsorships page.
-- If you propose a surprising collaboration, something unusual, the Festival Team may sponsor your application and waive your participation fee.  
-- To maintain an environment of imagination and discovery, we allow only a limited number of Experiences to sell during the Festival, for an additional $125 fee, approved at the time of your application.  Instead, please consider "wowing" attendees with your Experience so they will want to purchase from you ... later.
-- If the Fee is a financial burden, you are encouraged to find your own sponsor.  We can help; contact us.

3) Certificate of Insurance:  Each Experience is required to submit a Certificate of Insurance listing Imagination Celebration and the City of Colorado Springs as additional insured on your liability insurance policy.  It must be emailed by August 31.  While this could be new to you, this is standard for festivals. Please contact us at whatif@imaginationcelebration.org if you have any questions or concerns about this requirement.  We can help you figure it out.

We call each element of the Festival an “Experience”, whether it is an exhibit, a demonstration, an experiment, an activity or any other form of interaction that creates an experience for the viewer/participant. We want your application to be a winner, for you and the Festival attendees.  First, please make sure your Experience helps accomplish the Festival Objectives, and Second, make sure your Experience scores well with the criteria we use for selecting.

OBJECTIVES OF THE WHAT IF FESTIVAL

• Shine a light on diverse forms of innovation and imagination in our community. Show off interesting people, cool businesses, important tools and technology.
• Engage as many people as possible, together, in a day of “wows!”. Engage people of all ages in their own personally creative experiences. Celebrate together – share joys and aha’s!
• Cultivate creative collaborations and relationships that connect our community. Foster more innovation, invention, ideas, entrepreneurs, and creators.  

* Though broadly inclusive, the Festival does not allow overtly political or religious subject matter.

SHOW IT -- WHAT WE NEED

Please complete one proposal for each Experience you want to present. Use your imagination!  Make people say "WOW!"

The following Selection Criteria will be used to evaluate Experience applications. The criteria are meant to give guidance. Your proposal should clearly describe how it meets each criteria:

1. The proposed Experience is innovative and/or imaginative with a “Wow” factor for Festival attendees.
2. The Experience is engaging, interactive, and/or participative and educational.
3. The proposed Experience is in good taste, appropriate for a family-friendly event. The Experience is inclusive, sensitive to diversity, and does not judge others with different viewpoints or beliefs.

Criteria 4 through 6 are special criteria and though not required, are highly encouraged.
4. The proposal demonstrates collaboration (e.g., across communities, ages, disciplines, geographic areas, cultures, organizations and/or businesses, etc.).
5. The Experience is “Green."
6. The Experience encourages adults to engage and discover their creativity!  

You know that you and/or your organization is doing something interesting, imaginative, innovative, but you are uncertain as to how that translates into an Interactive Experience?  Contact us before going further with this application! Our Experience Committee will be happy to talk with you over the phone or meet with you and brainstorm on how you can have the maximum impact with your Experience at this year's Festival.  Contact:  WhatIF@imaginationcelebration.org

IF THERE IS A RED STAR NEXT TO THE QUESTION, YOU MUST ANSWER THIS QUESTION IN ORDER FOR YOUR FORM TO SUBMIT.  
And when you finish, don't forget to "submit" your complete application.
THANKS!

If this is a collaboration, who is your collaborator?   If this is a surprising collaboration, something unusual, the Festival Team may choose to sponsor your application and there will be no participation fee.