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Complete list of IDEA Exposition Events
Beginning Tuesday, a four day celebration will highlight what’s happening in IDEA Commons in downtown Springfield. KSMU’s Missy Shelton reports.
IDEA Commons is a 30 acre area that’s meant to be a hub where innovation, design, entrepreneurship and art meet. It’s a collaborative effort between the city and Missouri State University that blends residential, retail, commercial and entertainment facilities. This week’s IDEA Exposition kicks off Tuesday night at the Discovery Center. Rusty Worley is the Executive Director of the Urban Districts Alliance. He says from 6 to 8 tomorrow evening, there’s free admission to the Discovery Center where kids can enjoy the interactive science exhibits. And he says staff from the Jordan Valley Innovation Center will be on hand as well.
“The community can learn about the research happening there and about careers in the math and science fields. We’re encouraging families to come with kids in elementary school all the way through high school because one of the main goals of the IDEA Commons is to have good paying jobs so our young people can have options to stay here in Springfield and not have to go to bigger markets.”
The Jordan Valley Innovation Center is the centerpiece of IDEA Commons, which also includes Brick City, a facility under renovation that will house Missouri State University’s Art and Design Department. You’ll have a chance to see Brick City Wednesday night at 6 when the facility will open for a planning session that will bring members of the community together with campus and city leaders to discuss the vision for IDEA Commons. Before the 6PM meeting, there will be free walking tours of the area.Worley says IDEA Commons will bring together groups of people and enterprises that can benefit from one another.
“So you have a common theme of creativity which will unite all these different disciplines but they’ll be interacting with one another and we hope that’s what will spark additional discoveries or help them in their individual pursuits.”
Worley says IDEA Commons is an important part of the ongoing effort to re-vitalize downtown Springfield. This week’s IDEA Exposition ends with a Farmer’s Market on the Square beginning at 3:30 Friday, live music on the square at 5PM and the First Friday Art Walk at 6.We have a link to a complete list of IDEA Exposition events on our website KSMU.org
