TEDx conference set for Oct. 20 at UIndy

‘Keep It Simple’ is theme for ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’ event

The University of Indianapolis is a presenting sponsor and host of the fourth annual TEDxIndianapolis conference, taking place Oct. 20 at UIndy’s Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center.

Following this year’s theme, “Keep It Simple,” all speakers and performances will illuminate the importance of paring things down and getting back to basics. Through big ideas, innovative approaches and creative strategies, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the essence and power of simplicity.

TEDx conferences are local, independent events organized in the spirit of the international TED organization and its “Ideas Worth Spreading” mission. TEDxIndianapolis, now in its fourth year. continues to bring talent and inspiration to the Circle City. Previous outings at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Hilbert Circle Theatre have drawn 3,000 attendees, and the recorded videos of those talks have generated 445,000 views online.

This year’s lineup will feature 17 local and national speakers as well as six performers, each focusing on keeping it simple. The complete list of speakers will be announced in late June, and tickets will be available for sale in July. The event sells out every year, so be sure to mark your calendars now, and stay tuned for information about special discounts for UIndy students and alumni.

At the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, the timeless elegance of the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall will bring an inspirational new style to the event. The center’s Art Gallery and adjacent spaces will host a related exhibition and activities during the conference. UIndy faculty are involved in selecting and coaching the speakers for their appearances, and students, faculty and staff volunteers will provide tours and hospitality services for the day. The southside location also will give participants a chance to learn about ongoing revitalization efforts on and around the UIndy campus and the Shelby Street corridor.

TEDxIndianapolis 2015 is presented by Big Car, Indiana Humanities, The Heritage Group, Pivot Marketing and the University of Indianapolis, with Big Car Executive Director Jim Walker serving as official organizer. More information can be found at www.tedxindianapolis.com.

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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 TEDx initiative grants free licenses to people around the world to organize TED-style events in their communities with TED Talks and live speakers. More than 5,000 TEDx events have been held, and selected talks from these events are also turned into TED Talks videos.

About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading.” Started as a conference in California 27 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with many initiatives. At a TED conference, the world’s leading thinkers and doers are asked to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes or less. TED speakers have included Roger Ebert, Sheryl Sandberg, Bill Gates, Elizabeth Gilbert, Benoit Mandelbrot, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Brian Greene, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Three major TED events are held each year: The TED Conference takes place every spring in Vancouver, Canada, simultaneous with TEDActive, in Whistler, BC; and the TEDGlobal Conference takes place each summer in Edinburgh, Scotland.

On TED.com, talks from TED conferences are shared with the world for free as TED Talks videos. A new TED Talk is posted every weekday. Through the Open Translation Project, TED Talks are subtitled by volunteers worldwide into more than 90 languages. Through our distribution networks, TED Talks are shared on TV, radio, Netflix and many websites.

The annual TED Prize grants $1 million to an exceptional individual with a wish to change the world. The TED Fellows program helps 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. TED-Ed creates short video lessons by pairing master teachers with animators, for use in classroom instruction or independent learning.