entertainment, Film
Damon Condon
Part One: Streaming vs. Streamers - A Stand-Off

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.

Part One: Streaming vs. Streamers - A Stand-Off
Fundraising, Arts & Technology
Ian Hawthorne
DAF Punks Part Two: Beyond Simple Giving, A New ...

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.

DAF Punks Part Two: Beyond Simple Giving, A New Model for DAFs
Fundraising, Arts & Technology
Ian Hawthorne
DAF Punks Part One: How Tech-Fueled Disruptors ...

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.

DAF Punks Part One: How Tech-Fueled Disruptors are Reshaping the Role of Donor Advised Funds
Artificial Intelligence, Social Media, Surveys
Samantha Sonnet
What Are Museum Professionals Saying About ...

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.

What Are Museum Professionals Saying About Generative AI for Marketing?
entertainment, Artificial Intelligence
Hannah Brainard
April News: Entertainment Industry Divided on ...

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.

April News: Entertainment Industry Divided on AI Tools

Emerging Technology

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Holograms: Where Physics & Art Collide

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Holograms: Where Physics & Art Collide

“Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.” The iconic opening scenes from the original Star Wars film, A New Hope, epitomize what we think of when we consider the word “hologram.” In the minds of science fiction fans everywhere, the hologram is a concept that evokes feelings of wonder at the possibilities for technological advances. Whether someone is a fan of science fiction or not, it can be agreed that holograms have had a distinct impact on the arts. Although they were not initially intended for anything other than scientific use, holograms made their way into the public’s imagination and conjured up ideas of the future of technological advances.

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NFTs Legal Considerations and Implications

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NFTs Legal Considerations and Implications

In early 2021, the $69M sale of Everydays – The First 100 days, by Beeple, sprung NFTs from a niche but growing section of the digital art world into the mainstream public consciousness. Google searches for NFTs skyrocketed. Saturday Night Live spoofed the rapid sector growth with a parody of Emenim’s “Without Me” entitled “What the Hell’s an NFT.” A 10 second clip of the sketch was subsequently turned into an NFT which sold for $365,000. As pop culture awoke to and embraced this facet of the digital art world, so too has the urgency for artists, museums, and collectors to understand the rapidly evolving legal considerations within the NFT space.

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Positive Implications of Deepfake Technology in the Arts and Culture

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Positive Implications of Deepfake Technology in the Arts and Culture

Deepfakes, one of the hottest topics to burst onto the technology scene in the last five years, have received a lot of negative publicity because of the risks they can present in the hands of bad actors. However, when used in good faith, they have many positive and exciting uses within the arts and culture sector. This report will briefly explain what deepfakes are and how they work, as well as some of their weaknesses and negative implications. Additionally, three case studies will examine the positive ways in which deepfakes can be used in artistic and cultural institutions.

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How VR and AR are Changing the World of Immersive Theater

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How VR and AR are Changing the World of Immersive Theater

In the ever-changing and technologically advanced age that we are currently in, there are integrations of new technologies into our lives almost everyday, and the arts are no exception. The world of theater, especially that of immersive theater, has been experiencing a technological revolution of its own thanks to advancements in and the adoption of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Contributor Amelia Stevens explores this in her research.

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The Four Technologies Used in Virtual Production

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The Four Technologies Used in Virtual Production

The visual effects (VFX) industry has come a long way in the past 30 years. Studios have discovered the importance of better production pipelines that create a more collaborative environment between directors, gaffers, and artists. This article will analyze four technologies that are used in virtual production, discussing how they work, who is implementing them in their productions, and how they will disrupt the industry.

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How AR and VR are Changing Film: A Look at the Revolutionary Stagecraft, The Volume

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How AR and VR are Changing Film: A Look at the Revolutionary Stagecraft, The Volume

AR and VR technology is changing the film production process. One example of this technology in use is The Volume. This research looks at how this technology came to be and what its invention means for the future of the entertainment industry.

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Crypto Art's Origins and Future

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Crypto Art's Origins and Future

Our recent articles have examined NFTs’ recent rise and issues surrounding their environmental impact. This article looks more in depth at crypto art’s origins and the place it will hold in the future. Crypto art will continue to advance and evolve, so understanding its current impact will help those in the art world maximize its potential.

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NFTs: A New Age of Digital Art

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NFTs: A New Age of Digital Art

In recent months, NFTs have had a large presence on news feeds, especially in artists’ circles. NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are “digital assets that [represent] real-world objects like art, music, in-game items and videos.” Because of this, they are challenging the traditional ways that people view, buy, and sell artwork. This research will look at how NFTs came to be and what artists and arts administrators should consider when utilizing this technology.