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A call to creatives with a story to tell or an idea worth spreading is now open.

Applications are being accepted for the Sixth Annual TEDxAsburyPark conference, returning May 19 at the Paramount Theatre on the Asbury Park Boardwalk.

This year, the theme is passion.

“Passion grows directly from our audience, speakers, ideas, and organizers,” Founder Brian Smiga said in a written statement. Passion drives ideas, people, and communities to action; it makes makes leaders; and combined with knowledge, can create new ideas worth spreading.

Applicants are encouraged to address how passion led them to creation and/or destruction, to inspiration, suffering, grit, compassion, and/or an extraordinary service.

Founded in 2012, the independently organized collaboration moved to Asbury Park earlier this year through a partnership with boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette. 

“Passion takes many forms, and Asbury Park has always been a place where people come from far and wide to exhibit their passion for life,” Madison Marquette President Gary Mottola said. Mottola gave his first TEDx talk in 2016. “Asbury Park has no shortage of passion, so we’re the natural venue for a world-class conference on passionate ideas, stories, and art. TEDxAsburyPark will weave together the stories and ideas of local, national, and global artists and thought leaders.”

Behind the scenes, over 100 businesses, nonprofit leaders, professionals, local college students, and sponsors work to plan, manage, and fund the nonfiction theatrical event.

Auditions are held via Open Mic nights and an Open Rehearsal will follow, all open to the public  on the Paramount Theatre stage.

In the end, a roster of 25 curated speakers will be showcased during the all day event, which has sold out since its inception. Presentations feature a myriad of speakers, artists, musical acts, comedy, dance, and theatrical performances.

TEDxAsburyPark speaker applications are available via tedxasburypark.com.

[Photo courtesy of TEDxAsbury Park]

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