ArtBase Modernization

FAIN: HC-274988-20

Rhizome (New York, NY 10002-1218)
Dragan Espenschied (Project Director: May 2020 to October 2021)
Lindsey Jane Moulds (Co Project Director: July 2020 to October 2021)

Retention of six positions dedicated to a major overhaul of the ArtBase collection of new media art works, including a redesigned website, art historical interpretation, and other steps to ensure long-term digital preservation.

Rhizome respectfully requests urgent support to successfully complete a major overhaul of ArtBase—a celebrated archive of more than 2,000 born-digital art works—which will significantly expand and deepen public and scholarly access to born-digital culture. The proposed activities represent a critical step in a five-year modernization project that is now at risk due to lost foundation and individual income resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, with arts organizations placing new emphasis on online programming, and schools and universities adapting teaching for long-distance learning, there is new urgency to provide better access to the history of digital culture.