The creative standstill between viewers and streamers has come to a head. As streaming slowly inches its way to overtaking the conventional ways of watching television, the divide between what viewers want and what is being produced grows. Audiences have made it clear that they prefer the formats of the past overcurrent releases, but streaming companies are refusing to make changes to their current format, especially regarding the sitcom.
With little success in larger-scale government oversight so far, it begs the question: how is the marketplace for DAFs changing and innovating in the response to these singularizing criticisms? Is the market listening and self-correcting as a way to preempt such legislation? Given the broad variety of DAF sponsor organizations, it is evident that the field, while large, is not a monolith and deserves to be measured at its innovative margins. Newer sponsors have revealed themselves to be particularly aware of the controversies yet remain focused on the opportunities these accounts provide and are demonstrating new approaches to DAF sponsorship aimed at greater payout rates and democratization of their platforms.
While institutional philanthropy is in a boom-time, foundations have not monopolized such growth. The renewed interest in donor advised funds (DAF) since the pandemic has triggered meteoric growth in the amount of assets stored in DAFs, with recent figures showing over $229 billion stored across 2 million DAF accounts, receiving roughly $86 billion in annual contributions, and granting nearly $52 billion in 2022.
The use of generative AI (GenAI) tools is becoming increasingly prevalent in marketing, particularly for smaller organizations or nonprofits seeking innovative ways to engage audiences and improve workflow efficiency. This article dives into data collected through a survey that was sent out to museum professionals in Pittsburgh and Cleveland to better understand how and if they are utilizing generative AI tools in their marketing strategies.
This month, music and film are at the forefront as each battles with the future uses for burgeoning tech. While AI-generated film visuals seem to be coming up short, progress toward realistic AI-generated music is starting to send shockwaves. On the consumer side, music streaming tools are being released to allow more listening experience customization. Across the industry, artists are celebrating ways that some these new tools can enhance their work, while speaking out against potential impacts on jobs, compensation, and creative freedom.
In the face of challenges and uncertainties, arts organizations were able to adapt in the form of VR operas, drive-in plays, virtual gallery tours, and in many other ways. While it was definitely a difficult year, hopefully we will also remember the strength with which we responded. Here’s to carrying that resilience into the new year and hoping for a less turbulent 2021.
Happy Thanksgiving weekend from all of us here at AMT Lab! Even if your celebration looked a bit different this year, we hope you were able to relax, connect with those you love, and reflect on the things that you still have to be thankful for in what has been an at times bleak year. Here are some ways technology has helped us celebrate Thanksgiving in new ways and more tech engagement opportunities for the weekend.
Welcome to another year with the Arts Management and Technology Laboratory! Despite 2020 looking completely different than any year I’ve experienced, I am excited to take over as Chief Editor of the platform for 2020-2021. Following Lydia Kilian’s tenure as Chief Editor, during which she focused on the applications of technology to music education, blockchain, music streaming and more, I am looking forward to digging into my interests regarding how the arts, technology, and policy intersect (something I touched on as a contributor last year).
As our country comes face to face with its long-lasting racial and social injustices, it is important to consider how long term, institutional change can be made. The arts and technology sectors have the responsibility of providing equal access. We at AMT Lab are committed to doing better. We value knowledge and research and their power to create change.
There are a lot of options for how people may choose to allocate their time, attention, and financial resources. To an extent there is competition in the cultural sector between museums, theaters, and other similar organizations, but external options, such as other forms of entertainment or educational technology, present a plethora of choices for the consumer. With that in mind, as we start the year let’s take a brief scan of what was hot in the tech world through the 2018 holiday season, and what appears to be on the horizon.
This past year, contributor Kate Tsai gave us several fantastic articles about accommodating disabilities for arts non-profits. It really seemed to interest our readers so we wanted to re-post some of the Kate's best articles, and remind our audience of a few past gems as well.
First Kate gave us a fantastic infographic about many different types of impairments and disabilities that can create barriers when interacting with an arts organization. In addition, she walked us through 6 quick ways to adjust websites, making them more readable and clear for audiences of all kinds.
Some of our most well-read accessibility articles center on technology for museums. In the spirit of other brief overviews. In 2016, contributor Christine Nolan showed audiences just which technologies can contribute to a more accessible and audience-friendly museum experience.
5 Technologies with the Potential to Enhance the Museum Experience
In the same vein, contributor Stephanie Sun wrote about 5 technologies that give audiences ways to connect differently with the arts experience. Although these weren't highlighted directly as opportunities to improve accessibility in Museums, they are all opportunities in these areas. For instance, 3-D scanning has made it possible for Museums to create touchable replicas for people with vision impairment. What are some other applications of these technologies that open doors for improved accessibility.
Opening Doors
Museums are not the only ones looking to accommodate a wider range of audiences. Contributor Christine Sajewski writes a two-part piece on what sensory-friendly performances are and how they are implemented effectively in the field. The first part focuses on the 'what' and the second part focuses on the 'how'.
August tends to be summer's warmest month, and the news in the arts management and technology sector was just as hot. Cuseum released a report on AR’s visitor impact, early blockchain prototypes were found in the New York Times, and the Broad Museum shared details on their upcoming smart gallery labels. Plus, if your organization hasn’t thought about Pinterest in a while, you may want to. Read on to find out more!
