IGNITE Broward - CODAworx

IGNITE Broward

Submitted by Broward County Cultural Division

Client

Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States

Completion date: 2023

Project Team

Co-Creator

Phillip Dunlap

Broward County Cultural Division

Co-Creator

Marc Aptakin

Mad Arts

Overview

IGNITE Broward is a free, five-day and night digital art and light festival in Broward County, FL that showcases top national and international artists and artist teams. The event was created in partnership with Mad Arts and has become a premier art event for the South Florida region. Featuring both indoor and outdoor art installations in two locations (Dania Beach and Fort Lauderdale), visitors to IGNITE can expect a mixture of traveling and commissioned, site-specific installations using projection mapping, LED screens, and other cutting edge technologies. IGNITE goes beyond visual and immersive installations to include NFTs, poetry, dance, and music. Past IGNITE Broward artists include Seeper, Akiko Yamishita, Limelight Projection Mapping, Masary Studios, MF Dynamics, TheVERSEverse, Daniel Ireguli/Iregular, NONOTAK, and more.

Goals

The goals for this project were not to simply "import" mass-produced "experiences", but to play on the natural and built environment in Broward County to create a truly unique art experience for residents and visitors. Because we lack a density of amazing architectural buildings, this festival could not only be focused on projection mapping. Site specific, commissioned installations were integrated into the design concept to ensure a truly unique experience.

Process

In any collaboration, it is important to recognize each contributors' strengths and then to play on those strengths. In identifying Mad as a creative partner, we found a team that was able to take our ideas and amplify them to great success. In addition, they were just as crazy and committed as the Cultural Division team to making IGNITE happen. Clear definition of expectations, duties, and concept help guide the teams. The most important aspect that helped to make this a success was the trust built between the Cultural Division and Mad, allowing team to focus on the creative product and not be distracted by contracts, payment schedules, or egos.

Additional Information

IGNITE has received a wide array of financial support from additional partners like Visit Lauderdale and the City of Fort Lauderdale. Additionally, IGNITE won an award from the National Association of Counties (NACO).