Ready to reveal their new home in YVR, the TED conferences (which stands for technology, entertainment and design) made the decision to depart from their long-time digs in Long Beach in search of inspirational change. Well, they’ve found it in Vancouver – and have signed a two-year contract with the city to boot. With a line up of speakers ranging from novelists to inventors, producers, activists and military specialists to poets, musicians and many more, this is one conference that seriously sees a convergence en masse of bright minds.
If you are one of the lucky ones able to afford the rather pricy tickets ($7500 a pop), you’ll be pleased to note that the TED machine has spared no expense, creating a new style of presentation theatre housed within the already-stunning waterfront convention centre aimed at creating an up-close and personal experience for all.
And things are indeed about to get a bit more personal as TED has downsized the number of tickets sold for this exclusive conference to 1,200 to create balance between scale and intimacy, ensuring that the level and standard of human connection and interaction is maintained.
So just who’ll be heading to TED in YVR? Our city’s top venture capitalists, scientists, engineers, professionals, architects, creatives and philanthropists are likely clutching a ticket or two. What about young professionals pining for some TED-related insight? This year, TED has committed to broadcasting the conference talks (for free!) live from universities, community centres, libraries and schools throughout the week. Add to that a live feed outside of BC Place at Terry Fox Plaza on the jumbotron screen and you’re pretty much covered for the week.
This year will see an expanded TEDtalk agenda that includes an All-Stars Program featuring more than 50 of the conference’s most intriguing speakers who’ve been invited back for the first time ever. These speakers will expand on their ideas while engaging the audience through breakout sessions, intimate lunches, dinners and more.
Post day-time talks, the TED main stage program rolls out with 18-minute talks poised to start, followed by comedy, dance, short talks, video, music and more. Vancouverites can expect to find TED-centric art exhibits, demos and pop-up installations around the city throughout the week.
For more information and to learn about the selected speakers taking the stage at TED 2014, visit the full schedule here.
#LYNL | (Live Your Notable Life)
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