Public Policy, creative industries
Ian Hawthorne
Frameworks for Understanding Cultural Policy: ...

This article analyzes Ireland’s emerging position as a global cultural policy case study, focusing on the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) program and its place within the national framework Culture 2025. While Ireland’s consensus-driven political system, strong arts advocacy networks, and history of support for artist income have enabled an ambitious, research-oriented basic income pilot, the article highlights deeper tensions within cultural policymaking. Drawing on Stephen Hadley’s concept of “cultural policy realism,” it argues that Ireland’s policies—despite their novelty—remain rooted in traditional, instrumentalist views of culture as an economic engine and national branding tool. By contrasting democratization of culture with cultural democracy, the piece situates Ireland’s model between innovation and reversion, emphasizing the need for sustained experimentation, critical evaluation, and more genuinely democratic approaches to cultural support.

Frameworks for Understanding Cultural Policy: Lessons from the Irish Model
Gamification, Research, Artificial Intelligence
Staff Researcher
Part II - The Role of AI in Evolving Game ...

This study advances Part II by translating Scopely’s strategy into an execution plan across three tracks - NPC innovation, intelligent monetization, and ethical LiveOps - supported by new evidence from a 1,159-response consumer survey, nine expert interviews (developers, influencers, and experiential professionals), and secondary industry research. Part I established the market context for AI’s disruptive potential and identified three priorities: live operations evolution, commerce optimization, and advanced player analytics. The goal of this phase is to pinpoint the highest-leverage AI applications that deepen gameplay engagement, convert payment resistance through demonstrated value, and safeguard community trust. Accordingly, Part II outlines actionable playbooks (context-aware NPCs and adaptive narratives), platform tactics (purchase-aligned mobile personalization and cross-play integration), and operational models (behavior-based matchmaking and transparency protocols) designed to drive scalable, technology-led growth while preserving the integrity of shared human play.

Part II - The Role of AI in Evolving Game Ecosystems and Player Dynamics
Artificial Intelligence, entertainment, Research
Staff Researcher
Part I - Beyond the Screen: The Role of AI in ...

This study provides a comprehensive analysis for Scopely to enhance its position as a leader in interactive and mobile gaming, focusing on AI integration in live operations, in-game commerce, and player analytics. The research reveals the urgent need for gaming companies to navigate accelerated AI adoption and evolving player expectations for personalized experiences. The goal is to identify the most impactful AI applications over the next three years and strategies that maximize engagement and monetization while maintaining player trust. Significant to this goal is balancing innovation with ethical considerations, including data privacy and transparency, while recognizing AI's potential to enhance storytelling and create immersive experiences. Employing a mixed-methods approach with industry interviews, a survey of over 1,000 U.S. gamers, and secondary research, Part I establishes the foundation for understanding AI's transformative impact - setting the stage for Part II's empirical findings and strategic recommendations.

Part I - Beyond the Screen: The Role of AI in Evolving Game Ecosystems and Player Dynamics
News & Announcements, museums
Hales Wilson
Byte-Sized Culture: The Art of Stealing

A daylight robbery at the Musée du Louvre in mid-October resulted in the theft of eight priceless pieces from the French Crown Jewels housed in the Galerie d’Apollon. The incident now serves as an in-depth analysis for arts leaders globally to confront not only external threats, like highly organized professional thieves, but also the complex, internal risk of compromised staff and the urgent need to re-evaluate their security posture, technological investment, and institutional accountability.

Byte-Sized Culture: The Art of Stealing
entertainment, Extended Reality, Digital Futures
Staff Researcher
The Use of Immersive Technology in Live Music: ...

As immersive technologies redefine the live concert experience, artists and virtual idols alike are transforming how audiences engage with music. From Hatsune Miku’s “holographic” performances powered by projection and LED technologies to VR concerts by creators like BlackGryph0n and Gorillaz, extended reality (XR) is blurring the lines between physical and digital performance. This article explores the evolution of Vocaloid software, the artistry behind digital concerts, and the growing influence of augmented and virtual reality in live music. As AR and VR become more accessible, musicians and fans alike are discovering new ways to connect—reshaping what it means to perform, attend, and experience music in the digital age.

The Use of Immersive Technology in Live Music: Vocaloid, Digital Concerts and XR Implementation
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Digital Providers for Matching Gifts and Volunteer Matching

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Digital Providers for Matching Gifts and Volunteer Matching

Fundraisers take note: it is estimated that four to seven billion dollars a year goes unmatched by nonprofit organizations. Eighteen million people around the globe have access to a matching gift program, and it’s been surveyed that one in every three people who donate would actually be willing to donate more if they knew their donation could be matched in the first place. Matching gift programs and volunteer grant programs are more inclusive of corporate employees because the causes that they feel personally motivated to donate to or volunteer with are recognized and rewarded by their employers. The digital marketplace for these opportunities is growing making it easier for nonprofits to find their match.

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Net Art Part 2: Theories of Circulation and the Current Landscape

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Net Art Part 2: Theories of Circulation and the Current Landscape

This is part two of a two-part series about the net art network. The first part covered its beginnings and ideological basis. This post will look at how net art has evolved and the present landscape, drawing on new media theories and current artists’ exhibitions. Once a place of utopian possibility, current net artists see the internet as a root cause of today’s social, political, and economic inequalities.

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An Introduction to the Net Art Network: Part 1

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An Introduction to the Net Art Network: Part 1

With more critiques of large internet companies gaining traction, people are beginning to question the hegemonic nature of the internet and the power structures that exist on the web, both of which define net art as school of thought. It is the work of net artists to develop, critique, and re-imagine the development of human experience as it relates to and exists on the web. This post gives an overview of net art and two examples of early net artists.

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Part 2: Digital Access and Arts Vibrancy

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Part 2: Digital Access and Arts Vibrancy

Access to the arts is not even across the United States. The ways that people living in rural areas access artistic content differs from how people participate in urban centers. Additionally, as the sector is beginning to grapple with, access to the arts varies across racial and ethnic groups. Comparing county-level arts vibrancy data is one way to detect these patterns. While the number of dollars put into the arts in the form of compensation and expenses seems to be the best predictor of overall arts vibrancy, implementing municipal WiFi appears to be an opportunity for growth since analysis indicates that it can increase arts vibrancy.

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Digital Inequity in the Arts: Part 1

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Digital Inequity in the Arts: Part 1

The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything we assumed about the world. Everything that once seemed impossible to ask for in terms of public policy is now possible, including rent suspension, eviction moratoriums, and universal basic income. But, it has also revealed inequities, including who has access to the arts. This project, published in two parts, evaluates racial equity through the lens of the arts sector during the Covid-19 pandemic by asking the questions: who has access to the arts and, fundamentally, what does access look like?

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Throwback Thursday: Reimagining the Museum Experience

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Throwback Thursday: Reimagining the Museum Experience

What will museums look like after the pandemic? As news about the Covid-19 vaccine makes us optimistic about returning to more in-person activities soon, we’re looking back to exciting innovations in museum experiences to provide some inspiration for museum re-openings and digital engagement.

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Fundraising as Activism through the Community-Centric Model

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Fundraising as Activism through the Community-Centric Model

Currently, fundraising in the nonprofit sector uses a “donor-centric” model in which donors’ preferences for the organization’s direction are often prioritized over community needs. In the technology realm, donor centrism demands nonprofits’ use of advanced CRM systems to carefully track donors. Community-centric fundraising has emerged as an alternative that prioritizes community needs and social justice. Community-centric fundraising not only has the power to strengthen the fundraising profession as a form of activism, but its successful implementation means that the marginalized communities our organizations seek to serve will receive the attention, care, and justice they deserve.

How to Investigate Market Opportunities for Streaming: A Case Study of Anonymous Content in India

How to Investigate Market Opportunities for Streaming: A Case Study of Anonymous Content in India

The Indian television market represents significant opportunities for U.S. production companies like Anonymous Content to further expand their global reach because of the country’s large middle class and rapid technological advancement. To measure current and future television consumption trends, the authors surveyed Indian 18 to 34-year-olds enrolled in higher education and inquired about viewing patterns, content preferences, and how television fits into the larger picture of their lives. Their findings are included here.

Addressing the Digital Privacy Landscape in the Arts

Addressing the Digital Privacy Landscape in the Arts

Artists have the unique ability to challenge the processes by which digital content is policed, monitored and/or tracked through their work and the presentation of it (whether in person or digital). It is also essential for these individuals to be wary of the implications of their actions in digital spaces. When acting in a digital space, it is important to understand the extent and limitations of how artwork could be censored or monitored. Supporting privacy is supporting autonomy and the basis for free expression in a world where the lines between our society and digital spaces are increasingly becoming blurred.

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Resources for Video Streaming in the Arts

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Resources for Video Streaming in the Arts

Have you wanted to learn more about video streaming in the arts but weren’t sure where to start? This list of resources includes examples of video-on-demand (VOD) streaming platforms in the arts, tools for arts organizations considering their own platforms, and news articles covering the sector’s transition to digital.

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Guidelines for Using Aggregate Streaming Platforms for Performing Arts Content

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Guidelines for Using Aggregate Streaming Platforms for Performing Arts Content

For arts organizations looking to reach audiences through online content, there are numerous approaches, including posting subscriber-only content to their websites and posting free videos on platforms like YouTube. In the broader entertainment landscape, streaming via services that aggregate content has become a popular way to watch film and television. This article examines the viability of sharing performing arts content on third-party streaming platforms that aggregate content as opposed to single-entity streaming channels.

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A Look at the Intersection of CRM Systems and Digital Giving in the Arts Fundraising Landscape

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A Look at the Intersection of CRM Systems and Digital Giving in the Arts Fundraising Landscape

Customer relationship management (CRM) systems are integral to any arts organization. They allow for the organization to collect data on their patrons in order to create better relationships with them. However, the current pandemic has shown some areas for improvement, specifically in terms of current technology’s relevance. One such area is the intersection of CRM systems and digital giving. Up-to-date and easy-to-use technology can put an organization ahead, but it is going to take a dedicated strategy to ensure progress.

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Connections and Gaps between Artists’ and Institutions’ New Media Preservation Efforts

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Connections and Gaps between Artists’ and Institutions’ New Media Preservation Efforts

Media art, which frequently involves data, software, or electronic devices, keeps facing the challenge of technological obsolescence. Since preservation and conservation are fields often dominated by museums and similar organizations, a contrast exists between personal and institutional practices. In some cases, artists rely on museums for technological support. This article looks at new media artists’ firsthand experiences and media artworks donated to the MoMA.

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Part 2: Surveys, Interviews and Recommendations for Documentary Distribution

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Part 2: Surveys, Interviews and Recommendations for Documentary Distribution

Emerging Trends in Documentary Program Distribution focuses on understanding the current market for documentary programs and the current best practices to sell, distribute, and market documentary content. Part two of this research analyzes data and information collected through an audience survey and one-on-one interviews. This original research will be used in connection with the broader contextual research to provide recommendations for documentary filmmakers on the best paths for taking their work to the market.

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Emerging Trends in Documentary Program Distribution: Part 1

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Emerging Trends in Documentary Program Distribution: Part 1

Documentary content has long been a staple of culture and entertainment in the United States, but emerging technologies are changing the way this programming is consumed. Emerging Trends in Documentary Program Distribution focuses on understanding the current market for documentary programs and the current best practices to sell, distribute, and market documentary content. This research article is presented in two parts. The first lays out an overview of the documentary market and then moves into an analysis of how the consumption of video content has changed due to emerging technologies.

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Video Streaming Trends for Performing Arts Organizations

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Video Streaming Trends for Performing Arts Organizations

Performing arts organizations are facing unexpected pivots to sharing their content digitally in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of these organizations are confronting entirely unfamiliar methods of distribution, launching head-first into the vast world of streaming. To embrace the opportunities of such a shift, organizations must consider the benefits and risks of the various methods within the ever-evolving digital landscape.

AMT Lab in 2020: Our Top Posts and Podcasts of the Year

AMT Lab in 2020: Our Top Posts and Podcasts of the Year

Now that 2020 is in the rearview mirror, we’re looking back at the posts that were most popular with our readers. Featured topics included music streaming, entertainment trends, and management tools for the arts sector. On the podcast side, our most popular episodes reflected the national trends: the need for racial equity and the effects of Covid-19 on the arts sector.

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The Case and Tools for Building Online Communities in the Arts

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The Case and Tools for Building Online Communities in the Arts

As the pandemic presses on, building stronger online communities can help arts organizations serve the immediate needs of all audience members now and increase access to art and community for audience members who prefer to participate from home in the future. Though no virtual platform can perfectly replace the organic community built by in-person interaction, virtual third places might create something similarly joyful and uniquely accessible to connect arts communities in times of pandemic-driven social isolation and beyond.

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Digital Privacy and Subversive Art

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Digital Privacy and Subversive Art

Having a better understanding of domestic legislation regarding digital privacy, as well as the international landscape as it pertains to these issues, can help in managing art that could be characterized as “seditious” or “radical.” It is important to note that surveillance, from both private and governmental entities, is on the rise as are the possibilities of censorship or unconstitutional oversight.