TEDxAustin is coming!

(From TEDxLake Como)  Photo Credit

It’s like SXSW without the commitment

Does a week of SXSW “Industry” panels and discussions put a strain on your attention span, and your bank account?  Not a problem.  Enter TEDxAustin.

TEDxAustin is a harbinger of the many conferences and panel discussions set for the 2010 SXSW, in March.  Scheduled for February 20, 2010, TEDxAustin (think SXSW’s Music, Film, and Interactive week of panels rolled into a day) will, “unite 300 of our community’s progressive, positive, and passionate thinker and doers to Play Big.”

TED was founded in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design.  It’s a nonprofit self-proclaimed to be devoted to “ideas worth spreading.” Invited speakers share ideas, limited to 18 minutes (at most), ranging from the globalized nature of modern terrorism, to political satire, to artistic performances, amongst others.  Along with the annual TED Conference in Long Beach, California, there is the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford.  TEDx is the newest incarnation.

Whereas TED tends to focus on global issues, TEDx focuses on local communities, organizations and people, giving them the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences.

Hosted at the Austin City Limits studio at KLRU on UT’s (the real UT) campus, TEDxAustin will be the city’s first official TEDx experience (thought I predict not the last).

The theme of this inaugural TEDxAustin is to “Play Big.”  Play Big how? Apparently that’s up to you to decide.  For me it conjures up visions of Austin’s future.  Whether for good or bad, our city is changing.  For long-term residents like myself (well, since the 3rd grade) and recent transplants alike, the future of Austin—and of what Austin will continue to contribute to the world–should be a concern for us all.

While speakers have not yet been announced, given the depth of talented people across many fields calling Austin home, TEDxAustin isn’t likely to disappoint.

Here’s to expect:

• TED’s celebrated format: A suite of short, carefully prepared talks, demonstrations and performances on a wide range of subjects to foster learning, inspiration and wonder — and to provoke conversations that matter.
• TEDTalks videos: A minimum of two pre-recorded talks from the acclaimed TEDTalks video series will be shown (these talks are available free on TED.com).
• Bias-free programming: Lack of any commercial, religious or political agenda (Again, something for EVERYONE).

There’s just one catch to attending TEDxAustin. You must apply, and be accepted, before you can register. TEDxAustin is limited to 300 attendees, so folks interested in attending should register online here. While they promise not to select attendees on resume alone, they are looking to handpick an influential and diverse audience.

Applications must be received no later than January 15, 2010 at 11pm CST. Invitations to register for TEDxAustin will then be sent via email on January 25, 2010.

The cost at registration is $50.

//A.J.

p.s. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Charles!