Addressing the convergence of physical art and the networked digital world
As art quality images (scans and photographs) inevitably move onto ever larger and nicer wireless LCD and new LED high resolution displays, the pain of convergence will occur because how art is consumed will restructure how all the parties in the chain create and are paid for their value. In order to greatly exploit the creation of new value during this convergence, we as artists, producers, galleries, art-schools, the media, art patrons, consumers and other valuable stakeholders have much to gain as we band together around a dream and supporting set of technologies that benefit us all, perhaps especially the art-lovers and students of art. Artistes du Globe has created a foundational technology that addresses basic business processes in this emerging world, with the possibility of exposing the greatest art to the greatest number of paid consumers, preserving and enhancing the benefits of global artist/art-gallery relationships and bringing more community, collective strength and knowledge as we tackle these important transitions that will occur only once. The protected delivery and digital display technologies exist and we are hard at work completing the complex applications, which we hope can become largley functional by the end of 2009. We are in beginning discussions with display manufacturers who seem quite intrigued by the possibilities. We hope to publically launch the Artistes du Globe community and the Art-Serve content delivery network in early 2010 with a limited selection of nice digital displays sometime in mid 2010, earlier if possible.

Artistes du Globe will work with any artist to create a color-correct and rights-protected library of high resolution scans for delivery on the Art-Serve network. Consumers will be able to select from what will become thousands of art images submitted and approved by the Art-Serve staff. They can save favorites and select digital matting to match interior and changing image colors. Images will be displayed onto large physically or digitally framed LED displays using rights management techniques to make piracy very difficult and not likely givin the character of most art customers. Artists, with their gallery and producer relationships, will together create a compelling offering to art customers who would like the new media art service. Galleries participate in this evolution by demonstrating the Artists works on the digital displays, either in the gallery or on-location with clients. Galleries will sell the display units and set up customers with an Art-Serve account. Artists can make their images available to all consumers in any market zone (we have identified 240 around the world), or can optionally assign registered art-galleries exclusivity for an image in a given market zone, and a quantity of Acorns (our currency) for any consumer where the gallery primary market zone matches that of the consumer - regardless of where the consumer purchased the Art-Serve display unit or if they are even known to the gallery. When a consumer in Miami selects an image from an artist that assigned that image's Acorn credit to a local Miami gallery, the consumer is notified about the good news and the Acorns are credited to the gallery. This dynamic creates the incentive for art-galleries to align themselves with a number of great artists and offering a complete service to them and customers, perhaps creating a whole new business model serving commercial and residential clients around the Art-Serve service. We believe that with the on-line business processes and secured delivery technologies in place, together we can create a future for the arts and all earn from what is occurring.

NOTE: The Art-Serve system is still in development. It is fine to register your gallery now and take a look around, but many functions are not yet working. Be sure to revisit frequently and review how things are progressing. Your comments are always welcome.

You can reach jackson at artistes du globe dot com to discuss any particular thoughts and opportunities you have.

To register your Art Gallery please click here...