curiosity conference
A one-day community symposium of ideas, craft, story, and discovery.
Location, Time, Date, Etc
What Is the Curiosity conference?
The Curiosity Conferenceis a one-day public event designed to bring together thinkers, makers, students, researchers, elders, artists, tinkerers, and lifelong learners for a celebration of knowledge in all its forms.
It’s not a conference in the traditional sense.
There are no ivory towers here.
No prerequisites. No gatekeeping.
It’s a space where anyone—from teens to retirees—can share the ideas, skills, stories, and questions that move them. A space that honors the everyday genius in our communities and the joy of learning something entirely new.
Throughout the day, attendees move between mini-keynotes, hands-on workshops, and an evening poster & art showcase that ends with a mixer in the atrium.
If you’re curious by nature, you’ll feel at home here.
Who Should Present?
Everyone. Truly.
The Curiosity Conference welcomes proposals from:
Educators & researchers
Students & teen presenters (with guardian permission)
Artists & creatives
Tradespeople & hobbyists
Nonprofit leaders & community organizers
Makers, coders, gardeners, storytellers
Anyone with lived experience worth sharing
People who have never presented before
People who have presented for decades
If you have a topic you love, a craft you practice, a question you can’t stop turning over, or a story that teaches something—this event was built for you.
CFP Opens: January 15, 2026
CFP Closes: April 15, 2026
Acceptance Notifications: June 1, 2026
Final Materials Due: July 15, 2026
Event Date: Fall 2026 (Exact date announced by June 1, 2026)
What Happens at the conference?
Mini-Keynotes (30 minutes)
Short, powerful talks from community members, researchers, creators, and curious minds. These TED-style sessions highlight the ideas people care about—scientific, historical, artistic, philosophical, or deeply personal.
Hands-On Workshops (60 minutes)
Interactive sessions that invite you to build, make, experiment, analyze, or try something new. From block printing to qualitative interviewing to circuit-building, these workshops let you learn by doing.
Poster & Art Showcase + Mixer (4:00–5:30 pm)
The day ends in Exploration Gateway’s bright, skylit atrium with a community mixer.
Browse posters, view art installations, talk to presenters, and enjoy light refreshments. Weather permitting, the mingling continues into the outdoor courtyard.
Why We Built This
Curiosity isn’t a luxury. It’s a public good.
When people gather to share what they know—and what they wonder—the entire community becomes more connected, compassionate, and creative.
The Curiosity Gathering is IncuBrighter’s invitation to Stark County (and beyond):
Come teach. Come learn. Come be surprised.
Come remember that wonder is contagious.
We are building a space where learning is communal again.
We hope you’ll be part of it.