Innovation Showcase (Asynchronous - Online Only)
Heirdom Capital - Unlocking Art and Culture Potential View Digital Media
Innovation Showcase Tommaso Giambelli
Heirdom Capital (HC) leverages UN sustainability practices, giving birth to a new generation of sustainable art funds; redesigning the art and culture financial market. In this paper we examine the present constraints associated with the art and culture market, identifying its problems and limitations. In light of this analysis, we then propose a framework able to address the market deficiencies and introduce a number of surprising advantages in a variety of fields. In fact, the Art Market is a B64$ market, its inefficiencies are widely recognized by the literature and are negatively affecting the Art Market structure per-se, Investment strategies, and Sustainability Industries. We dissect how, in specific, the most important art players are all suffering from these dynamics. On a financial note, we go through the appealing attributes of both art as an investment as well as (ESG) responsible investing; for the solution we design spans between those categories. We discuss a number of attempts that have been made to address these issues and highlight how the results have been characterized by shortcomings. The HC complex coordination approach aligns the core incentive structure between: art professionals, investors and sustainability-oriented institutions. This, in order to generate liquidity, regulations, and transparency in a market that, if healthy, could generate indiscriminate jobs, helping achieve the 8th, 9th, and 11th of the Sustainable Development Goals while yielding profits to every player involved.
Bringing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education to Diverse Audiences: AstroAnimation and Beyond View Digital Media
Innovation Showcase Robin Corbet, Laurence Arcadias
For several years we have been running an “astro-animation” class at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore where students work in tandem with research scientists from NASA Goddard and elsewhere to create animations. These films combine results of cutting-edge research with an artist’s eye to create novel presentations of scientific results. We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the current program with the support of an NEA research grant, and found it to be highly effective. Building on this, we are now exploring the feasibility of producing an informal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning program. We plan to create an itinerant astro-animation exhibition and a series of workshop activities around themes such as dark matter or black holes. We will give the participants the opportunity to explore an astronomical concept through animation activities with the guidance of our trained facilitators. We are investigating what pedagogical structure can be implemented through these activities and how to train instructors in the long run to make this project sustainable. The pilot phase focuses on Baltimore, where MICA is located, with its wide and diverse population. If our pilot is successful, we would expand this to a full-scale implementation of the astro-animation STEM program that would include increased material, facilitator training, and infrastructure that would be available nationwide and beyond.
American University Students Select, Display, and Illuminate Ethiopian Artifacts for a University Museum Project View Digital Media
Innovation Showcase Paulette R. Hebert
For the first time in nine years, an annual four-week museum design project, part of a module within a required undergraduate interior design course, was moved online to an asynchronous, web-based course due to the global pandemic. To initiate the project this year, the American University's students were provided with a virtual tour of the University's own collection of Ethiopian artifacts instead of visiting in person. The 34 enrolled students were provided with links to Ethiopian artifact databases and encouraged to search for additional artifacts online. Concurrently most of these students also enrolled in a required material culture course, with a textbook that stressed the "meaning of objects". Historically, this American University has enjoyed relationships with several Ethiopian Universities and educational opportunities which could support further linkages between the countries have been encouraged. The instructor had cultivated relationships with museum-specific vendors for display and conservation furniture, furnishings and other products. Gaylord Archival and MBA Mila Wall provided literature for students again this year. The guest speaker presented museum-specific products via Zoom. The instructor provided a museum lighting case study PowerPoint slideshow via Zoom. Students selected a variety of artifacts for their museums including apparel, baskets, jewelry, maps, pottery and sculpture. The specified lighting fixtures and other technical products. They utilized hand drafting techniques, Photoshop, and/or SketchUp software to develop 3D interior perspectives. Students submitted preliminary design progress to the discussion board for the University's educational platform, Canvas, and received instructor feedback. Students' final designs were submitted electronically to Canvas.
