Empowering Creative Communities: Fab Lab Barcelona's Role in the DAFNE+ Project
Fab Lab Barcelona, part of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), is leading one of the use cases of DAFNE+. Fab Lab Barcelona was the first Fab Lab funded in Europe in 2007, affiliated with MIT's Center for Bit and Atoms. It still remains a place where design, computation, and fabrication come together, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Fab Lab Barcelona aims to empower individuals to turn their ideas into real prototypes using digital fabrication technologies like 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC milling. It also acts as a connection hub for diverse creative minds, including makers, designers, students, educators, craftspeople, artists, tech-savvy creators, academics, art enthusiasts, curators, researchers, and managers. The Distributed Design Platform is a project co-funded by the European Union coordinated by Fab Lab Barcelona, with 17 members from a diverse pool of cultural and creative organisations across Europe. The objective of the platform is to act as an exchange and networking hub for the European maker movement to develop and promote the connection between designers, makers and the market.
The people who are part of the Fab Lab Network and the Distributed Design Platform, along with their respective and extended communities, are the central focus of our case study and contribute significantly to our research.
In the context of DAFNE+, Fab Lab Barcelona is exploring new alternative economic models that can empower and sustain these practitioners. We plan to identify tools and methodologies by collaborating with the maker and design communities in the Fab Lab Network and the Distributed Design Community that respect our core values of openness, collaboration, regeneration, and ecosystemic thinking.
At Fab Lab Barcelona, community involvement has been crucial for identifying our use case primary objectives in DAFNE+. We used surveys and interviews to collect input from our community and two main areas of interest emerged. The first is to create financial structures supporting open-source projects and decentralized collaboration. This ensures recognition and benefits for all contributors involved in the project, from its development to eventual sale. Second, another significant aspect of our research is the potential application of blockchain and cryptocurrencies to physical objects. This expands the horizons of these emerging technologies beyond software and digital art, driven by the interest of the makers' community.
Within DAFNE+, Fab Lab Barcelona aims to give voice to our communities needs, fostering collaboration and empower creators through new research methods. We will work with experts from the Fab Lab Barcelona and Distributed Design Platform networks, along with like-minded partners in the DAFNE+ consortium, to address these important concerns and find solutions that benefit our community.
IRCAM, cradle of musical creators and innovators
IRCAM (Institut de recherche et coordination acoustique/musique) was founded by composer and conductor Pierre Boulez in 1977 as part of the Centre Pompidou project in the heart of Paris. Following the pioneering experience of the Bauhaus, Boulez's vision in the late 70s was that the future of contemporary music would be shaped by advances in science and technology. In this spirit, IRCAM was conceived as a place bringing together researchers and engineers on the one hand, and artists - composers, performers, sound designers - on the other, enabling multiple forms of interdisciplinary interaction between them for their mutual benefit. Since then, IRCAM has remained a benchmark art-science-technology institution, where artistic production, at the service of leading artists, is a permanent source of experimentation and needs for scientific research and technological innovation, sometimes years ahead of mass-market developments in ever broader economic sectors, starting with the creative and cultural industries.
IRCAM has grown considerably over the last few decades. Its research and development activities are organized in the STMS (Science et Technology of Music and Sound) joint lab, which brings together over 100 researchers and engineers with the support of the CNRS, Sorbonne University and the French Ministry of Culture. It is a leading international laboratory in a wide range of scientific fields of STMS, from physics and acoustics to human cognition and musicology, with core research into all aspects of sound and musical information processing.
One of IRCAM's distinctive features in the academic landscape is its involvement in professional technological development, both as a support and result of research, industrial transfer through its commercial subsidiary Ircam Amplify, and as creative tools for artistic production. These tools made of numerous technological components and several integrative environments form the basis of its in-house artistic production, with over 30 new works produced each year and presented at various international venues, including its annual ManiFeste festival in Paris in June. They are also made available to the IRCAM Forum, a growing community of 40,000+ users, including artists, researchers and engineers involved in the creative technologies of sound and music, who meet regularly in the IRCAM Forum's workshops in Paris and in partner institutions in various countries.
In DAFNE+, IRCAM is in charge of coordinating the use-case pilots, including the one on experimental sound and music production, and contributing to the specifications and technical development of the platform.
Building on the IRCAM Forum and its community, IRCAM's participation in DAFNE+ will enable it to experiment with new possibilities for empowering the players in this ecosystem, made possible by blockchain and NFT technologies and the community governance rules of DAOs: declaring their ownership of the creative tools and technical repositories used to produce works of art, making them directly available to other community members and possibly monetizing them or obtaining crowdfunding support for new artistic projects, among other aspects.
DAFNE+ 4th Plenary Meeting in Paris
Our 4th General Meeting started punctually. DAFNE+ project partners have travelled to Paris to assist to Ircam Forum facilities for the venue. Two days of intense meetings and discussions that have pushed the project forward.
As the launch of the platform is near we have been defining the last technical details about it, but also tailoring other matters that will be key in the future development of the project.
Exchanging impressions and valuable inputs but also creating content that will enable the future users of the platform to use it in the best possible way aswell as they benefit from a fair content distribution.
What is DAFNE+ about?
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have rapidly gained importance within the creative sectors. These unique digital assets are irreplaceable and distinct, bought and exchanged via blockchain technology, granting buyers access to exclusive content. A notable advantage of NFTs is their ability to unite creators and consumers within a decentralized cultural and artistic community.
The DAFNE+ project, supported by the European Union, aims to establish innovative distributed autonomous organizations and communities centered around NFTs and digital tokens, all governed in a decentralized manner.
This endeavor is expected to drive innovation and enhance competitiveness within cultural and creative industries. It will achieve this by leveraging the technology to develop fresh revenue models and business strategies, thereby enabling these industries to expand their influence and access new distribution channels, free from the constraints imposed by intermediaries.
https://youtu.be/XlOTyd33KUU
Can music be turned into an NFT?
Music is an art form and cultural activity that involves organizing sounds in a structured and meaningful way. It is created by combining various elements such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre to evoke emotions, convey ideas, and communicate messages. Music is present in virtually all cultures and societies around the world, playing a significant role in human expression and communication.
As an artistic expression, music can indeed be turned into an NFT (Non-Fungible Token). NFTs have expanded beyond visual art to encompass various forms of digital content, including music. Musicians and artists can tokenize their music using NFTs, allowing them to sell and distribute their work in a unique and digitally verifiable way.
Here's how music can be turned into an NFT:
- Creation of the NFT: The process starts by creating a digital representation of the music, typically in the form of a digital audio file. This audio file is then associated with a unique NFT on a blockchain platform, which validates its authenticity, ownership, and provenance.
- Metadata and Information: Along with the audio file, metadata and information about the piece of music can be included in the NFT, such as the artist's name, album title, release date, and any other relevant descriptions.
- Listing on NFT Marketplaces: After minting the NFT, the artist can list it on NFT marketplaces that support music, that allow users to discover, bid on, or purchase the music NFTs.
- Royalties and Secondary Sales: Similar to other NFTs, music NFTs can incorporate royalty mechanisms. This means that whenever the NFT is resold in the secondary market, the original artist or creator can receive a percentage of the sale, ensuring ongoing compensation for their work.
- Licensing and Usage Rights: Artists can define the terms of usage rights for their music NFTs. They can choose to offer different tiers of ownership, each with varying levels of usage rights. For example, one tier might allow private listening, while another might grant public performance rights.
- Collector Benefits: Buyers of music NFTs can enjoy unique benefits, such as exclusive access to the music, the ability to resell the NFT, and a verifiable digital connection to the artist's work.
Music NFTs have gained popularity as a way for musicians to directly engage with their fans, offer unique digital collectibles, and monetize their creative output. They also enable fans to become more connected to the music and the artist.
What is an NFT marketplace?
An NFT marketplace is an online platform where Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are bought, sold, and traded. NFTs represent unique digital or physical assets, often related to art, music, videos, virtual items, collectibles, and more. Unlike fungible tokens like cryptocurrencies, each NFT has distinct properties and cannot be exchanged on a one-to-one basis with another NFT.
The main features of NFT marketplaces are:
- Listing and Discovery: Creators and sellers can list their NFTs on the marketplace, providing details about the asset, its provenance, and any associated metadata. Buyers can explore the marketplace to discover and browse a wide range of NFTs.
- Bidding and Auctions: Some NFT marketplaces facilitate auctions, where potential buyers can place bids on NFTs. Auctions can increase excitement and competition for valuable or highly sought-after digital assets.
- Fixed Price Sales: NFTs can also be listed with a fixed price, allowing buyers to purchase the NFT instantly at the listed price.
- Royalties and Secondary Sales: Many NFT marketplaces include a royalty mechanism, which ensures that creators receive a percentage of the sale whenever the NFT is resold on the secondary market.
- Wallet Integration: Users typically connect their cryptocurrency wallets to NFT marketplaces to facilitate transactions. This integration enables secure buying, selling, and transferring of NFTs.
- Curation and Categories: NFT marketplaces often categorize NFTs by type, genre, or theme to help users discover assets of interest. Curated collections and featured artists may also be highlighted to promote specific NFTs.
- Verification and Authenticity: NFT marketplaces use blockchain technology to verify the authenticity of NFTs and track their ownership history. This ensures that buyers are purchasing genuine and unique digital assets.
Marketplaces have gained significant attention as they provide a platform for creators and collectors to engage in a new form of digital ownership and commerce. Nevertheless as the rest of Web3 technolgy is evolving so are marketplaces. The reality is that NFT marketplaces have revolutionized the way digital assets are bought, sold, and valued, creating opportunities for creators to monetize their work in unique and innovative ways. Such as DAFNE+, that looks to increase the legal transparency for creators and artists, offering new forms of royalty distribution and allowing to keep track of the secondary market.
What is the creator economy?
The creator economy refers to a digital ecosystem that empowers individuals to monetize their creative skills, talents and content, directly, without the need for traditional intermediaries. It is driven by the rise of digital platforms and technologies that enable content creators to build and engage with their audience, monetize their work, and establish their personal brand. In this new kind of economy, individuals have the opportunity to become creators, influencers, or entrepreneurs by leveraging their expertise in various fields such as video production, photography, writing, podcasting, music, art, and more. They can produce content, share it online, and develop a loyal community around their work.
Key elements of the creator economy
- Digital Content Creation: Creators produce content across various platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, podcasts, newsletters, and personal websites. Their content may range through various topics, from educational content and entertainment to lifestyle, fashion, gaming, and others.
- Direct-to-Consumer Relationships: Creators build direct relationships with their audience and fan base through social media and other communication channels. This direct interaction fosters a sense of community and loyalty, enabling creators to better understand their audience's preferences and needs. And this is precisely one of the key points of this new relationship between creator and audience.
- Monetization Strategies: Creators use a range of monetization strategies to generate revenue from their content and online presence. These strategies include brand sponsorships, merchandise sales, paid subscriptions, crowdfunding, affiliate marketing, and creating premium content for dedicated followers.
- Platforms and Creator Tools: Various platforms and creator-centric tools have emerged to support content creators in managing their businesses. These tools include analytics platforms, membership and subscription management services, content creation and editing tools, and crowdfunding platforms.
- Entrepreneurial Mindset: Creators in the creator economy often adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, treating their online presence as a business. They take on various roles, including content production, marketing, community management, and financial management.
- Emphasis on Authenticity and Transparency: Authenticity and transparency are highly valued in the creator economy. Creators build trust with their audience by being genuine, open about their processes, and staying true to their values and interests.
The creator economy has also given rise to a new breed of platforms and services that cater to the needs of content creators, providing them with tools and resources to grow their businesses. As the creator economy continues to evolve, it is reshaping the traditional media landscape and challenging traditional notions of work and employment.
Embracing NFTs
In this sense, the creator economy has started to embrace the use of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) as a way to further monetize and engage with their audience. One of the main reasons for this is that the creative sector is enabled by advancements in technology and the widespread accessibility of the internet.
NFTs are unique digital collectibles, so this means that creators can mint and sell their artwork, music, videos, or virtual goods in this form. These NFTs can be bought, sold, and traded on blockchain marketplaces, providing creators with a new revenue stream and giving fans a chance to own exclusive digital items.
As traditional collectibles, NFTs allow creators to offer limited edition content or experiences to their most dedicated fans. By creating scarcity through NFTs, creators can sell limited copies of their work, granting buyers access to exclusive content, behind-the-scenes experiences, or virtual interactions.
Another benefit that NFTs bring to the table is the possibility of earning royalties and secondary sales of their digital assets. Whenever an NFT is resold on a marketplace, the creator can receive a percentage of the sale value, ensuring ongoing revenue as the value of their creations appreciates.
After this advantages there is another one related to the building of a community. NFTs enable the possibility to grant access to exclusive communities, events, or memberships. Creators can create NFT-based memberships that offer perks like early access to content, private chats, or special rewards for token holders, strengthening the connection between the creator and their most dedicated supporters.
If this wasn't enough NFTs enable collaborative creations and shared ownership. Multiple creators can come together to collaborate on an NFT project, with each participant contributing their unique talents. This shared ownership model can strengthen partnerships and allow for shared revenue distribution.
Besides this multiple advantajes, the use of NFTs in the creator economy has also generated some concerns discussions around environmental impact, copyright infringement, and the long-term value of digital assets are only some of them.
Nevertheless, as the space evolves, creators and platforms are exploring ways to address these issues and ensure responsible and sustainable integration of NFTs in the creator economy.
DAFNE+ explains the project in Barcelona
The Cultural and creative industries event in Barcelona has been an excellent opportunity for DAFNE+ to explain the project to a broad and specialised audience. Also to express the idea that new technologies like Web3 and blockchain can help cultural heritage dissemination and development.
The main purpose of DAFNE+ is to help digital content creators and creatives find new forms of creation, distribution, and monetization of their works of art through blockchain technology.
Iago Fernández-Cedrón, DAFNE+'s project manager received a warm welcome and exchanged some positive and very valuable inputs within the attendants.
A very innovative but consistent path for the creative industry to explore news ways to develop but also to reach to their specific audience and the society in the whole. Hope to have had a strong impact in the creative space, the team will continue to challenge the future of art experimentation.
DAFNE+ drives cultural innovation in Barcelona
Dafne+ will be present at the “Cultural and creative industries, cities and citizens fostering sustainable development and well-being” event held next month in Barcelona, during the 11th, 12th and 13th of July.
Our Project Manager, Iago Fernández-Cedrón, will be attending and explaining Dafne+ project to the attendants, during the second day of conferences on the section called "Cultural and creative industries as a driver of innovation and competitiveness".
During his presentation he will make an emphasis on what innovative aspects will Dafne+ marketplace introduce in the NFT space and how the project aims to help digital content creators to find new forms of creation, distribution and monetization of their works of art through blockchain technology.
The programme will include other projects such as:
- FAIR MUSE : "Towards a competitive, fair and sustainable European music ecosystem".
- CRESCINE: "Increase the potential of the international competitiveness of the European filmmaking industry".
- EPIC-WE: "Games and culture shaping our society".
The event will show how the creative sector can produce economic prosperity but it will also display how cultural and creative industries can be social and innovative drivers. Also to reflect how the CCIs contribute to improve people's quality of life by creating solutions through Culture and Science.
More information about the event can be found here.
Also you may check the rest of the agenda.
What can DAOs offer to creatives?
A new way of governance is brewing thanks to blockchain technology. Since the 20th century companies have been funded and organised in serveral ways but most of them develop through a centralized model. However this tendency might come to and end with the rise of DAOs.
What does DAO mean?
DAO stands for Decentralized Autonomous Organization. It is a type of organization run by rules encoded as computer programs called smart contracts and executed on blockchain technology, instead of being run by a centralized authority or management team.
This means that a DAO is not controlled by one single person or group of people, it is managed by a network of participants. Normally, these people are part of the community that supports the organization.
Also, DAOs are typically created for a specific purpose or mission, and anyone can participate in the organization by purchasing tokens or shares that give them a stake in the organization and a say in how it is run. However, members can also be involved by collaborating with their time executing several tasks.
As DAOs activity is transparent, it is considered to be a more democratic and fair way to organize, as decision-making power is distributed among all participants rather than being concentrated in the hands of a few.
Additionally, DAOs can provide more efficient and cost-effective ways to manage certain tasks, such as fundraising, decision-making, and resource allocation. However, DAOs also bring some challenges to the table. Is for this same reason, when participants are way too numerous the difficulty of enforcing rules and resolving disputes increases, not to mention the risk of hacking or other security breaches.
What is it for artists and other content creators?
This way of governing organizations can help artists articulate their own community of supporters in a fruitful and fair manner. Also it can help them develop all those activities that they are not very keen at with the help pf their community members. This is for two main reasons. In the one hand they could stablish a more truthfull and direct way to communicate with their audience and make them part of the decision process. In the other hand, fans could also become supporters and members of the crew.
While the full potential of DAOs is still being explored and their use cases and limitations are yet to be discovered, also legal issues rise. So, the execution of this new and emerging way to govern organizations, will need to be studied carefully in the following years.