Supported by the Tezos Foundation and helmed by We Are Museums in partnership with LAL Art, the Web3 for the Arts and Culture (WAC) Fellowship recently culminated in a pioneering initiative that reimagines the engagement of cultural institutions with the Web3 universe. This four-month online program, sparked by intensive weekly discussions, has successfully onboarded several museums into the realm of Web3.
The fellowship’s focus was on enlightening participants about the extensive potential blockchain offers in the cultural sector. A comprehensive curriculum spanning topics from security concerns and legal dimensions to the prospect of the metaverse and the intricacies of community building in Web3 has been delivered. This exhaustive education was brought to life by an impressive roster of 25 trainers, 50 mentors, and a resource bank including 35 lessons, 10 hands-on challenges, and 15 detailed case studies.
“The WAC Fellowship is driving the cultural metamorphosis, empowering institutions to capitalize on the tremendous potential of blockchain technology,” opined Diane Drubay, Founder of We Are Museums and WAC-Lab.
The program’s final phase was marked by the design and execution of innovative blockchain applications explicitly tailored to cater to the needs of the arts sector.
With the fellowship at a close, several inventive projects are now soaring to new heights. The House of Electronic Arts (HEK), for instance, has taken a bold step forward with the launch of the “HEK NFT Shop,” preparing to unveil their second NFT edition in collaboration with Leander Herzog. This move marks HEK’s entry into the world of Web3, setting the stage for compelling possibilities, including a tokenized museum membership and a potential DAO.
Similarly, the Musée d’Orsay has embarked on a bold new journey into merchandising. This trailblazing initiative, which allows visitors to collect digital keepsakes from their visits, signals the museum’s entrance into the realm of Web3, while simultaneously exploring unconventional avenues for revenue generation through blockchain engagement.
Meanwhile, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka is innovating by rewarding patrons who explore Sri Lanka’s modern and contemporary art using the Naan wallet’s “Proof-of-Learning” tokens. This pioneering approach aims to stimulate and reward efforts to broaden art understanding.
The ground-breaking projects realized by the fellowship are a testament to its transformative impact in harmonizing blockchain technology with the arts and culture sector. The fellows’ visionary endeavors will be exhibited today, May 25th, offering a tantalizing peek into the future of cultural institutions in the blockchain era.
