The inaugural One Spark crowdfunding festival wrapped up Sunday after bringing more than 100,000 people Downtown, according to attendance estimated by event organizers.
The final item on the schedule was the presentation of the $250,000 prize fund. Individual artists, musicians and science and technology developers received proportional awards based on more than 50,000 votes cast by festival attendees.
"Rethreaded" received the most votes in the art category and received $6,768.42 from the prize fund. The top entry in the music category was "Fathom Sphere." The group of local musicians received $2,509.43.
The entry from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, "Tiger Trail" secured first place in the science category and a check for $4,183.94.
"The Wall" received the most votes in the technology category and a check for $3,466.29.
The festival provided an opportunity for the creative and nonprofit communities to showcase their work to an expanded audience and a chance for businesses to be discovered by people who haven't been Downtown for some time.
Ron Chamblin, owner of Chamblin's Uptown cafe and bookstore along Laura Street, said his daily book business was double the average level and business in the café was almost three times above average. He also saw many new faces walk in his door.
"There were so many people who said they didn't know the store was here. I expect we'll get a lot of business in the future because of One Spark," he said.
Joe Snowberger serves on the board of directors of the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association. The nonprofit organization is raising funds to bring the USS Charles F. Adams, a retired U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer, to Jacksonville to serve as a Downtown museum and tourist attraction.
"The money wasn't the most important thing about the festival, it was about increasing the awareness of bringing the Adams to Jacksonville," Snowberger said.
He said the association identified about 20 new partners in the business community. Based on the response from the One Spark visitors, a public forum is being planned to further increase awareness of the project.
As the events wrapped up Sunday afternoon on the first One Spark festival, Elton Rivas, executive director of the event, promised a "bigger, better and brighter" festival in 2014.
To learn more about the top vote-getters, visit beonespark.com.
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