Transformer

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Transformer Fund

About the Fund:

Open to Cultural Center Planning Initiative institutions, Transformer Fund offers financial support of up to $20,000 per project for the creation of novel forms of digital expression, storytelling, and engagement. Transformer Fund explores issues of community participation and connection through technology with a view to transforming the social, green, and built spaces within the 83-acre center.

The objective of this fund is to identify, develop, and produce new digital modes of action, interaction, and collaboration within the Cultural Center. Transformer Fund welcomes proposals for projects that extend beyond the physical boundaries of the institution into the wider campus and online. The fund strongly encourages proposals that explore experimental and interactive projects which engage audiences within participatory experiences. Preference is given to projects that include and financially support artists, creative technologists, and culture-bearers with a clear connection to Detroit residents and neighborhoods.

Due August 2, 2021 11:59:59 PM


Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Transformer Fund partners are committed to embracing and enhancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and access to arts and culture, and encourages applications from communities across racial, ethnic, geographic, socio-economic, cultural, age, gender, and sexual orientation spectrums.

Eligibility

  • The lead applicant must be a staff member of a CCPI institution, though collaborations are encouraged.

  • All projects must be new work or mark a significant enhancement of an existing project or program.

  • Projects must have some place-based/physical connection to the 83-acre Cultural Center boundaries.

  • Projects may be pilots, demos, prototypes, or minimum viable products in addition to complete works/programs, so long as they have clear opportunities for the public to engage or participate in demonstrations?

  • Multiple applications from an individual or an institution are permitted (please see special instructions in the application if this is the case), and staff/institutions can partner on more than one project.


Funding Priorities

  • Creative/artistic applications of technology within the public realm, especially projects that push boundaries and take risks in their form, content, and/or ability to uplift cultural forms that have had less representation, visibility, and support.

  • Supports artists, creative technologists, and culture-bearers.

  • Community participation and engagement.

  • Advances the digital capacity, vision, and strategy for the organization.

  • Collaborations across more than one CCPI institution.

  • Timeliness, Cost & Feasibility of project.


Evaluation Criteria

MDI and rootoftwo will engage a panel of local and national reviewers. MDI has sole discretion as to the number of proposals that will be accepted and supported through the Transformer Fund, based on the availability of funding in addition to the reviewers recommendations.


Projects will be evaluated according to the following criteria in alignment with the priorities:

  • Demonstrates compelling approach to outdoor creative tech 25%

  • Project prioritizes support for artists 20%

  • Project prioritizes participatory experiences 20%

  • Project advances orgs digital capacity 15%

  • Project demonstrates cross CCPI collaborations 10%

  • Timeliness, Cost & Feasibility of project 10%


Reviewers will score each criteria 1-5 (5 = good; 1=bad)


Examples of Areas to Explore

urban screens, mobile gaming/locative media, creative data visualization, digital wayfinding, streaming, XR (augmented, mixed, virtual reality), environmental sensing/sensor-based projects, sound art/field recordings/audio/podcasts, mobile/location-based oral histories, apps, and other web/internet enabled-projects. There are a number of examples and resources available from https://transformer.rootoftwo.com - in particular through the National Endowment for the Arts Tech As Art report, found here.


What MDI, rootoftwo, & WSU Provide

  • Funding, made possible through a grant from the Knight Foundation

  • Additional support for videography/documentation of the project

  • Storytelling + PR opportunities

  • Evaluation, Research, and Case-making Opportunities for this work

  • Outdoor Wi-Fi

  • Outdoor Urban Screens/Projection support

  • DLECTRICITY (subject to separate review by their team)



Transformer Series

About the Series:

The Detroit Cultural Center Planning Initiative is an effort to reimagine the public space that connects a dozen cultural organizations across an 83-acre site. In addition to planned enhancements to the physical environment, the initiative is also developing approaches to make the space more accessible and interactive with an investment in technology.

Transformer is a new series of moderated panel discussions and learning opportunities focused on how cultural organizations, artists, creative technologists, and others are creating compelling digital experiences, engaging audiences, and building resilient strategies and models for the future. Curated and produced by rootoftwo in partnership with Midtown Detroit Inc. these convenings will engage local, national, and international thought leaders over the course of six 90-minute online zoom sessions from April - June 2021, funded through a grant from John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

SESSION 1

Wed. April 7th
5–6:30pm

Collective Caretaking:
Building Visibility & Capacity Together

VISIT Session 1 Video & Resource Page

As cultural organizations and districts begin to open for visitors, this session explores the way they are using digital and physical brand and messaging experiences to build confidence, communicate safety, and welcome. This session also highlights how cultural district leaders and member organizations are collaborating and creating innovative shared services paradigms that have helped them to navigate change and digital transformation during the pandemic.


GUEST SPEAKERS

Vaughn Perry
Director of Equity
11th Street Bridge Project

Debbie Berry
Vice President of Community Development
University Circle Inc.

Suzana Bishop
Chief Experience Officer Acting CEO
Federation Square

Mauricio Garcia
Chief Program & Engagement Officer
The Highline

Michelle Boone
Chief Program & Civic Engagement Officer
Navy Pier


MODERATOR

Cézanne Charles
rootoftwo


SESSION 2

Wed. April 21st
5–6:30pm

Of Public Interest:
Interactive Experiences to Engage People + Place

VISIT Session 2 Video & Resource Page

As we begin to gather and inhabit outdoor spaces again, this session considers the ways that artists, creative technologists, festivals, and other placed-based creative organizations are reinventing the interactivity and physicality of developing works for the public realm. This session also takes a look at the way we engage in memorializing the complex histories and geographies of people through public art, monuments, and storytelling, with an emphasis on hybrid digital/physical approaches.


GUEST SPEAKERS

Cheyenne Concepcion
Artist and Artistic Director
New Monuments Taskforce

Kendal Henry
Artist, Curator and Director
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art program

Jen Krava
Director of Programming + New Initiatives
Forecast

Rachel Chanoff
Founding Director
THE OFFICE performing arts + film


MODERATOR

Cézanne Charles
rootoftwo


SESSION 3

Wed. May 19th
5–6:30pm

Cross Platform:
Digital Outreach, Engagement, and Learning

VISIT Session 3 Video & Resource Page

This session looks at the way artists, creative technologists, and cultural leaders have developed digital forms of expression for storytelling, outreach, learning, and engagement before and during the pandemic. We will explore how these novel approaches may evolve and remain a part of how the field builds relationships with and between practitioners, organizations, and communities -- contributing to city-building, belonging, and lifelong learning.


GUEST SPEAKERS

Lauren Ruffin
Co-Founder
Crux Cooperative

Jane Alexander
Chief Digital Information Officer
The Cleveland Museum of Art

Rachel Adams
Chief Curator and Director of Programs
Bemis Center

Heather Norton
Vice President Learning Experiences
Discovery Place


MODERATOR

Cézanne Charles
rootoftwo


SESSION 4

Wed. June 2nd
5–6:30pm

New Horizons:
Aesthetics & Ethics of Participation

VISIT Session 4 Video & Resource Page

This session looks at the way artists, creative technologists, and cultural leaders have developed and presented ambitious participatory art and technology projects which meaningfully engage diverse audiences. This session also explores how museums, festivals, collectives, and organizations are operating as experimental spaces and hubs for new forms of social, civic, and cultural production that center artists and communities.


GUEST SPEAKERS

Salome Asega
Artist and Researcher

Stephanie Dinkins
Artist and Researcher

Dr. Julie Nagam
Artistic Director
Nuit Blanche Toronto 2020/21

Roddy Schrock
Executive Director
Eyebeam


MODERATOR

Cézanne Charles
rootoftwo


SESSION 5

Wed. June 16th
5–6:30pm

The Power of Piloting:
Seeing, Showing & Growing What Works

VISIT Session 5 Video & Resource Page

This session looks at the way artists, designers, creative technologists, and other cultural leaders are using data, observation, prototyping, and other approaches to inspire and empower visitors. The session is also interested in how collaboration and partnerships within and between institutions can overcome silos and merge different organizational cultures, creating richer experiences.


GUEST SPEAKERS

Katie Moffat
Head of Digital
The Audience Agency
www.theaudienceagency.org

Diane Jean-Mary
Partner / Chief Strategy Officer
LaPlaca Cohen
https://www.laplacacohen.com/

Matt Elliott
Head of Creative & Digital Experiences
The Henry Ford
https://www.thehenryford.org

Shawn Lani
Director, Studio for Public Spaces
Exploratorium
https://www.exploratorium.edu


MODERATOR

Cézanne Charles
rootoftwo


SESSION 6

Wed. June 30th
5–6:30pm

Momentum:
Digital Transformation in the Creative Sector

VISIT Session 6 Video & Resource Page

This session broadly explores the shifts, new norms, and structures needed to make culture, humanities, and artist-led digital transformation work. The session will share out the resilient strategies, resources and recommendations for supporting digital transformation in the creative and cultural sector, especially as it centers and uplifts the experiences of BIPOC communities. The session also looks at ways that culture and creativity can foster digital inclusion and engagement with visitors, communities and residents.


GUEST SPEAKERS

Jax Deluca
Media Arts Director | Visual Arts
National Endowment for the Arts

Tracie D. Hall
Executive Director
American Library Association

Koven J. Smith
Senior Director/Arts
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Elizabeth Merritt
VP, Strategic Foresight & Founding Director,
Center for the Future of Museums
American Alliance of Museums


MODERATOR

Cézanne Charles
rootoftwo


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