Goguenheim: Renaissance on Cardano

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Where we are: The Problem

Ever since the Mary HFCE last year, Cardano has been positioned as a bedrock with solid, simple and eco-friendly foundations to host and secure the future of digital assets via NFTs, in the blockchain space. This has brought about many opportunities for many creators to connect their artworks and art-based projects to the Cardano Blockchain. However, time and observation has shown that this advancement has only been leveraged (or over-leveraged even) by a segment of participants in the ecosystem i.e. the quick-trade and arguably speculative market of NFT-based digital collectibles a.k.a. PFPs.

Such a development has proven to be both beneficial and detrimental as Cardano's NFT ecosystem currently ranks third in terms of NFT trade volumes yet little to none of said stats can be attributed to independent artists or creators who are geared towards contemporary art projects, a.k.a. 1/1 artists. Furthermore, this development has not brought in the market and mindshare from platforms like Ethereum and has only pushed away many promising or even prominent artists and collectors (in the contemporary space for NFTs) who might consider Cardano for greener pastures. Cardano's popularity as a blockchain for good and quality art-based NFTs, creators, and collectors in the global scene is lacking whilst networks like Ethereum, despite its archaic and inefficient structures for NFTs, continues to benefit from these contemporary NFT based artists.

What's the plan: The Solution

Build and curate the Goguenheim: a collection of contemporary artworks through an Artist-in-Residence program where we periodically onboard and incentivise prominent and promising artists (and their communities) currently from Ethereum to release and expand their work into the Cardano NFT ecosystem. Through the support of Catalyst, the Goguenheim will serve as the premier collection of artworks and related endeavours that best represent the vibrance of Cardano as a blockchain for high quality art-based NFTs. It will also serve as the foremost incubator-like program and attraction to nurture the culture of contemporary art growth and adoption in the Cardano Community. This will be achieved by giving the Cardano Community and collectors from far and wide i.e. Ethereum, the opportunity to acquire pieces by various resident artists from the Goguenheim collection on a weekly basis, a la Nifty Gateway.

The Goguenheim will establish art residencies on Cardano for up to 5 artists from Ethereum per month (over a three month period). Each month will have a different set of curated artists and they will have weekly releases of their artworks via NFTs on Cardano. The Cardano Community and collectors from Ethereum will have every opportunity to acquire these artworks either through auctions or direct sales. In the event of low/no patronage, the Goguenheim will officially and effectively collect said artworks using funds made available by Catalyst and thereby compensate these artists anyway. All artworks collected by the Goguenheim will serve as a showcase of the calibre of art-based NFTs in the Cardano ecosystem at various events such as Art Basel, NFT NYC, etc.

Diversity and equality will be key tenets in artist curation as the Goguenheim will strive to be an inclusive and equitable platform for all.

It is the hope that the Goguenheim will cause the Bilbao effect needed for Cardano to shine and progress as the foremost platform for high-quality art and many other forms of NFTs on the global stage.

PLEASE CHECK OUT RELEVANT LINKS FOR ALL FUTURE UPDATES/FURTHER INFORMATION

[IMPACT] Please describe how your proposed solution will address the Challenge that you have submitted it in.

The establishment of the Goguenheim will serve as the centre of progress and attention for the Cardano ecosystem as contemporary artists and creatives bring over their art-based NFTs, communities, and collectors from Ethereum.
Aspiring and up-and-coming creators on Cardano will be able to find confidence and understanding in releasing their works on Cardano as the Goguenheim will serve as a beacon of representation.
Cardano will have a balance of NFT-based collectibles (10k PFPs) and contemporary artworks (1/1s) which will help drive marketplace activity and allow Cardano to climb higher in the ranks of NFT ecosystems. We're going for #1
More artists and collectors from Ethereum will consider Cardano for its eco-friendly and operational efficiencies along with its vibrant and budding community.
More marketplaces and publications will have a fresh and strong desires to keep up more with Cardano which can lead to integrations and coverage from some of the major platforms out there like Opensea, Decrypt, etc.

[IMPACT] What are the main risks that could prevent you from delivering the project successfully and please explain how you will mitigate each risk?
Media and content coverage from key sources and publications like Decrypt.
Solution: Allocate resources to better incentivise and enable optionality of outlets.
Adjustment of Ethereum artists to the Cardano Community, ecosystem and tools like wallets, marketplaces, etc,.
Solution: Focus heavily on education/onboarding material and processes (eg. LidoNation) as well as community-driven interactions.
Conflicting schedules and consistency from various artists: Some prominent artists take a while to make and release their best work.
Solution:

Coordinate a feasible release schedule/cool down period for resident artists in a way that aligns with the timeline/agenda of the Goguenheim. This may involve alternating between various artists/releases.
Build an exhaustive rolodex of artists to choose from and introduce to the Goguenheim pool if need be.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed plan, including timeline and key milestones for delivering your proposal.

Note: All timings start from Catalyst Fund 9 Result Announcement.

09/12 - 09/22: Commencement of the Goguenheim with first batch of artist onboarding, education, and community-driven interactions.
09/26 - 12/26: Commencement of weekly (or biweekly) media campaign and content coverage of the Goguenheim's releases.
This will include interviews, sneak peaks, and artist spotlights.
09/30 - 12/30: Genesis drop and continuous artwork releases per week. This will involve:
First release and unveiling of the Goguenheim with artworks from curated artists ready for collecting by general public.
Weekly releases of new works from new creators for the next three month period.
Continuous onboarding and community-driven interactions of all new artists.
Support of Cardano-based NFT marketplaces like Fibo, Jpg.Store, Artano, etc, to attract and improve growth.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown.

Total Allocation: $100,000.00

Goguenheim, Artist-in-Residence program: $60,000.00 / 3 MONTHS

1 Headliner/Curating Artist per month: $10,000.00 ($2500.00 weekly)
4 Supporting/Curated Artist per month: $8,000.00 ($500.00 each, weekly)
Goguenheim Coordinating team coverage per month: $2000.00

Media Publication / Content Coverage: $15,000.00 / 3 MONTHS

This will involve:

Blog and editorial content from crypto and art media/news platforms.
Video content such as interviews with artists.

Operations Team Coverage: $25,000.00 / 3 MONTHS

This will involve:

Provisions for web development/maintenance of official websites/resources.
Artist relations and business development.
Operational tooling and support components such as SEO tooling, social media management, etc.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide details of the people who will work on the project.

Currently:

Emmanuel Batse -> Project Lead

In talks with/Intended recruits:

More to join.

[FEASIBILITY] If you are funded, will you return to Catalyst in a later round for further funding? Please explain why / why not.

I am likely to return in a later round as more cost data from experience will be available to improve operations and better strategise to compensate whatever shortcomings there may be from this proposal.

[AUDITABILITY] Please describe what you will measure to track your project's progress, and how will you measure these?

Participation from the Cardano community in terms of active bids/offers/purchases w.r.t. Goguenheim art pieces. This data will be readily available from marketplaces.
The number/frequency of artist applications looking to create and exhibit their work via the Goguenheim Artist-in-Residency program.
Social media analytics that highlight positive and engaged activities of users online with the Goguenheim via mentions, likes, retweets, comments, shares, etc.

[AUDITABILITY] What does success for this project look like?
Participation from prominent art-based NFT creators.
A steady and growing number of community turnouts for weekly drops/releases.
Good coverage of the Cardano NFT ecosystem by various crypto media groups/publications.
Flawless onboarding of prominent and promising artists and their peers and collectors.
A quantifiable measure of NFT ecosystem growth and marketplace activity for contemporary art.
A larger recognition of the eco-friendly, low cost, simple and secure approach to NFTs offered by Cardano.

[AUDITABILITY] Please provide information on whether this proposal is a continuation of a previously funded project in Catalyst or an entirely new one.

This is an entirely new proposal.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Rating

SDG goals:

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

SDG subgoals:

Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women

By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value

Key Performance Indicator (KPI):

Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

Universal Human Rights Index (UHRI):

#proposertoolsdg

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