www.artmine.com
Make Mine, No throw, No Strings, The Give And Take Mine......These are a few of the working titles I am musing on for this project aimed at facilitating sustainability through digital means.The conceptMy concept will not really be breaking any new ground but is a service I think it may have legs. The idea is to create a digital platform that will facilitate finding new homes (or studios) for unused materials which may be useful for any type of artist or creative pursuit. It will be a tool to connect people who have unwanted goods to creatives looking for specific materials or just looking for inspiration. The creative users may be professional visual artists, hobbyists, performers, actors, set designers, musicians and even writers...basically, anyone with a project.The materials or goods could be anything deemed useful for a creative project, ranging from traditional materials (such as oil paints) and tools (stretcher bars, chisels) to items such as old technology or recycled plastics.My premise is that most people, whether they themselves are artists or not, agree that creativity is an important and enjoyable aspect of a civilised society. These people also have an understanding that the average artist struggles financially. I propose that this sharing platform will be a way these people can support artists and creativity and ultimately contribute to the cultural fabric of the city. At the moment the only other way to do this is to purchase artworks or tickets, which is fine but not always an option. This platform will provide a way for artists to connect and share with other artists but also a way that any other individual and corporations can show social responsibility - a desire and willingness to contribute to the culture of their city. I have noticed, when producing other artworks which require the pooling of resources, for example Sea Cells, just how much people want to help and become part of the process.The basic concept, of moving goods from a place they are not being used to one where they will be used, already exists in similar forms (think Free cycle & Tu Share) but nothing is targeted specifically at artists and creative pursuits. I believe that this focus will help target the marketing and help motivate people to become involved.In essence the benefits of Art Mine will be ...
- Good for the soul, sharing scientifically proven to improve happiness and decluttering shown to be good for mental health (I will need to find some stats to back this up!)
- Good for the environment - reduce landfill
- Good for the creative culture of the city - support artists so they can do their thing
- Help a sense of community and common purpose. Help artists feel less isolated and more appreciated.
The problem will be designing and marketing the tool so it won't get lost in the vast ocean which is the internet.In the coming posts I will look at the marketing, user experience and design of the platform.I will also look to the work of Elinor Ostrom on common pool resources and collective self-governance to help me establish a code of practice and system of operation.