The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) is participating in the Web3 for the Arts and Culture (WAC) Fellowship programme, offered by We Are Museums and TZ Connect with the support of the Tezos Foundation. The MMCA Sri Lanka is the only arts and cultural institution from Asia out of the 12 recipient institutions in this cohort of the 12-week fellowship, which began on 26 January 2023.
This innovation laboratory aims to educate and onboard participants onto Web3, with a focus on using blockchain technology to further their missions for culture preservation, social good, environmental justice, and financial stability.
“As arts institutions navigate the current climate, Web3 offers a new world of challenges and opportunities,” said Diane Drubay, Founder of WAC Lab. “Our goal is to work with these institutions to explore how they can use blockchain technology in innovative ways to achieve their goals and build a sustainable future,” she added.
Other participants in the WAC Fellowship include the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (Australia), Belvedere Museum (Austria), Haus der Kunst München (Germany), House of Electronic Arts (Switzerland), French Ministry of Culture (France), Institute for Sound and Music (Germany), Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie (France), National Taras Shevchenko Museum (partnering with ArtAegis and Modern Art Research Institute) (Ukraine), The Reel Store (United Kingdom), The Royal College of Art (United Kingdom), and the Wooko Makandie Foundation (The Netherlands).
Reflecting on the multidisciplinary applications of blockchain in the arts and culture, the MMCA Sri Lanka staff members participating in this fellowship are; Sanuja Goonetilleke, Curator of Learning and Training; Ritchell Marcelline, Assistant Curator (Exhibitions); Thinal Sajeewa, Research Assistant (Exhibitions); and Manuja Mallikarachchi, Digital and Design Intern.
Speaking about the MMCA Sri Lanka’s objectives of participating in the programme, Ritchell Marcelline, Assistant Curator noted that “As technology constantly evolves, we as a museum in the making have an opportunity to take a step in this direction, by using technology to advance access and opportunities.” He further added, “Through this fellowship I hope to learn how to put Web3 or blockchain technology to practical use in our museum activities, ranging from better archiving to integrated programming access.”
For more information on the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka, visit www.mmca-srilanka.org or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mmcasrilanka and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mmcasrilanka/ for updates.