About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK, and this November, the TEDIndia Conference will be held in Mysore, India. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where three exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world, and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter (twitter.com/TEDTalks), or on Facebook, (facebook.com/TED).

TED2010, “What the World Needs Now,” will be held Feb. 9–13, 2010, in Long Beach, California, with TEDActive, a simulcast conference of TED2010, in Palm Springs, California. TEDGlobal 2010, “And Now the Good News,” will be held July 13-16, 2010, in Oxford, UK.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

What’s the theme for TEDx Edmonton?

Our theme for TEDx Edmonton is “Cultivating the Creative Economy”. It will be an incredible opportunity to be inspired by leading creative professionals, technology experts, entrepreneurs and business and cultural leaders from across the city and around the globe, and learn how they are driving the creative economy. Built around the unique TED Talks format, themes will include creative entrepreneurship, creative sustainability and creative technologies. Not only will you hear about innovative programs and projects, but you’ll also gain the tangible tools to make them happen within your organizations, businesses and communities.

Creative Entrepreneurship - At the intersection of creativity and innovation is opportunity. Where there is opportunity, there are entrepreneurs building companies and working towards social change.

Creative Sustainability – Sustainability has become part of every industry from design to green technologies. We’ll explore concepts and emerging practices that are reducing negative impact on the environment.

Creative Technologies - Creative technologies are shaping the future of the global creative economy. We’ll explore emerging technologies that are impacting successful creative economy growth.

Who’s behind TEDx Edmonton?

TEDx Edmonton is being organized by artsScene Edmonton under license to TED.

Founded in 2009, artsScene Edmonton is a non-profit initiative that brings together young business and creative professionals (ages 18-40) through the arts, culture and creative industries. artsScene is a national initiative made possible by Business for the Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering and promoting business leadership in the arts, facilitating funding relationships and connected business volunteers to the arts. artsScene has been established in Toronto, Halifax, Montreal, Edmonton and Calgary.

artsScene is event-driven and is led by a volunteer organizing committee of passionate young professionals from across the arts and business community. We brought artsScene to Edmonton in order to mobilize young business and creative professionals to play an active role in the growth of the arts, culture and creative industries in our community. This includes bringing events like TEDx Edmonton to our great community.