TEDxTryon invites everyone in the region with “an idea worth spreading” to apply to speak at its Sept. 10, 2016 event to be held at Tryon Fine Arts Center. Speaker applications are being accepted online at www.tedxtryon.com through March 30. Anyone who cannot access the application online can call TEDxTryon at 828-243-9423.

“What we are looking for this year are new ideas from new voices,” says Beth Brand, Speaker Selection Lead. “Speakers who are passionate about their topics, bring a dynamism to their talks and that in turn inspires their audience. We want their ideas to gain traction throughout the year.”

The theme for 2016 is “Live. Inspire. Repeat.”

One of hundreds of TEDx events worldwide, TEDxTryon provides the opportunity for a community conversation exploring the people, places, and events that shape our lives in the Carolina Foothills. Operating under a license from TED, TEDxTryon is independently produced and organized by community volunteers. TEDxTryon is especially supported by the Arts and Education Committee of Tryon Fine Arts Center, the cultural hub in the Foothills region for performance arts, as well as for educational opportunities since 1969.

Those who wish to speak at this year’s event can go to www.tedxtryon.com to learn more about TEDxTryon, find resources for creating a great talk, and access an application.

This year, between 12 and 15 speakers will be chosen. In addition to the TEDxTryon talks held in the TFAC auditorium, the day-long program includes performers, TED videos and lunch. Post-event programs are also being planned to keep the conversations sparked by TEDxTryon talks going throughout the year.

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.)

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or fewer) delivered by today’s leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED’s annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, and made available, free, on TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.

Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED or Instagram at https://instagram.com/ted.

– Submitted by Arlene Cassidy