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Tom Tom Founders Festival Concludes its Most Successful Year (FINAL NUMBERS and AWARD WINNERS)

written by Newspack Team | April 25, 2016

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (April 25, 2016) – The Tom Tom Founders Festival’s week of talks, entrepreneurial competitions, concerts, and public art took place over April 11-17. Tom Tom 2016’s total attendance exceeded 38,200  across 51 events. Highlights of the week included a free Boyd Tinsley (Dave Matthews Band) concert at the Paramount at Tuesday , a bill-signing with Governor McAuliffe at the Youth Summit on Thursday , and Friday and Saturday block parties in Lee Park which drew 7,400 and 9,500 and featured national acts such as Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds.

Tom Tom’s 2016 attendance marks a 45% increase from 2015, when the Festival hosted 26,260 attendees.  From its inception in 2012 with 6,700 attendees, Tom Tom has grown nearly 470%.

For a full breakdown of highlights, please visit:

2016 Highlight Numbers:

City As Canvas

Tom Tom’s total attendance figure does not factor in projects like Tom Tom’s City As Canvas art initiative. During the week of Tom Tom, four artists created four new murals throughout Charlottesville.  These included murals by Christy Baker at 1010 Wertland Street; Mickael Broth at 1327 E High St.;Laura Wooten at 963 2nd St. SE, and Ed Trask at 1105 Carlton Ave.

Another example includes the collaboration with Charlottesville Area Transit for the City Art Bus, which is projected to impact 15,000 riders.

Grants & Award Winners

Tom Tom hosted 6 competitions in 2016 with expected disbursements of over $1,500,00 in cash & funding.  The Festival hosts competitions to provide a public stage and access to capital for individuals and organizations that would not otherwise have this opportunity.

Recipient:     John A. Hossack, Ph.D.

Recipient Team:N. Scott Barker, Ph.D.

Arthur W. Lichtenberger, Ph.D.

Robert M. Weikle II, Ph.D

Winner:     Seniors Connect Leela Ghaemmaghami & Clara Duffy

CIC Choice:     Little Planets; Ewa Harr

Contraline: Kevin Eisenfrats & John Herr

Social Safeguard: Jim Zuffoletti & Otavio Friere

Typezero, Chad Rogers

First Place:     Agrospheres: Payam Pourtaheri & Ameer Shakeel

Second Place:     Async Talent: Tara Raj &  Morgan Murray

Third Place:     Notable Music: Jack Ross, Steph Colen, Axel Tarnvik & Brian Abod

Audience Choice: AgroSpheres: Payam Pourtaheri & Ameer Shakeel

Winner:     Chef Otis Sims, UVA Healthcare

Winner:     Yard Mapper; Patrick Acker and David Evans

Winner:    Airsurve; Garret Allen and Nicholas Allen

Judges Choice:     Christian Johnston, Tavola

Crowd Favorite: Christian Johnston, Tavola

    Winner:     Sincerely Magazine; Kieran Rundle, Kayleigh McCoy, Emma

Umberger

    CIC Winner:     ArtStep; Kurt Bertone and Harry Gould