Artcrush: Transforming Public Spaces into Digital Art Galleries
Team Introduction
Team Members:
- Mathieu France - CEO - Experience: Over 20 years in Out-of-Home Advertising with two successful exits
- Mathieu Bazelaire - CTO - Experience: 20 years in digital tech, previously built & sold Dogstudio.co
- Brian Beccafico - Lead Curator - Experience: 8 years in digital arts, former Digital Arts Lead at Sotheby’s
- Marie Benoist - Marketing Manager - Experience: 4 years in advertising and art sectors
Project Overview
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Brief description of the project
Artcrush is an innovative platform that transforms urban spaces into digital art galleries, where blockchain-enabled art is displayed on digital billboards around the world. Artcrush provides artists with a public platform to showcase their work, while promoting blockchain technology by enabling digital art ownership and transactions through NFTs. Artcrush leverages multiple blockchains, including those compatible with Badger DAO, allowing artists to mint and manage their art in an environmentally conscious way. -
How it aligns with Badger DAO’s objectives
Badger DAO is dedicated to enabling bitcoin’s use as collateral across decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. Artcrush aligns with Badger DAO’s mission by integrating blockchain into the art sector, furthering DeFi’s reach and enhancing bitcoin’s utility. Through Artcrush, we introduce a new demographic to blockchain technology by showcasing art on a global scale and encouraging public interaction with NFTs and digital assets.
Artcrush plans to leverage Badger DAO’s technology, specifically its Sett Vaults and DIGG product, to enhance the financial opportunities for artists and collectors. Sett Vaults could be employed to store and manage tokenized versions of digital artworks, offering artists and collectors a way to earn yield on their NFTs. This makes blockchain integration in the art world more tangible and financially rewarding, while simultaneously creating a use case for synthetic BTC and DeFi products on the Badger DAO platform.
By displaying NFTs and leveraging the DAO’s yield-generating products, Artcrush enhances both the visibility of blockchain technology in public spaces and the practical applications of Badger DAO’s offerings. This alignment showcases the DAO’s commitment to extending bitcoin’s utility across multiple blockchains, while also addressing the increasing demand for accessible and decentralized art experiences.
In addition, Artcrush’s use of elastic-supply cryptocurrency (such as DIGG) and automated DeFi aggregators (SETTs) can offer innovative ways for collectors to engage with and manage digital art assets, creating new intersections between DeFi and digital art for the Badger DAO community. Through this partnership, Artcrush and Badger DAO together can democratize access to art, drive blockchain adoption, and promote bitcoin-backed assets within a culturally enriching public framework.
Detailed Project Description
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In-depth explanation of the project
Artcrush transforms urban environments by turning digital billboards into dynamic digital art galleries. By integrating with Badger DAO, Artcrush will utilize DeFi solutions to revolutionize how art is displayed, owned, and monetized. The integration will allow artists to mint NFTs and offer collectors opportunities to earn yield on digital art investments. This synergy not only democratizes art but also introduces blockchain technology to new audiences in public spaces. -
Technical details and architecture (if applicable)
▶ System Architecture Graphic
Roadmap and Milestones
Milestones and Activities:
Milestone 1: Integration with Badger DAO & App Development
Objective: Complete integration of Badger DAO’s DeFi infrastructure and develop an app for interactive user engagement.
Planned Activities:
• Implement NFT minting and ownership features utilizing Badger DAO’s infrastructure, including Sett Vaults for yield generation.
• Develop the Artcrush app to allow users to interact with billboards, view exhibitions, and collect digital art via NFTs.
• Onboard initial artists and launch test exhibitions on a limited number of billboards.
Expected Duration: 1 month
Budget Allocation: $12,500
Milestone 2: Expand Billboard Network & Launch Open Calls
Objective: Broaden the billboard network internationally and initiate open calls for artists to participate in public exhibitions.
Planned Activities:
• Forge partnerships with additional billboard networks in major cities worldwide.
• Launch the first open call for artists, inviting submissions for upcoming public exhibitions.
• Implement seamless integration with Badger DAO to allow artists to mint NFTs and leverage Sett Vaults for yield on their digital artworks.
Expected Duration: 2 months
Budget Allocation: $17,500
Milestone 3: Full Public Launch & Brand Partnerships
Objective: Roll out the Artcrush platform globally, secure brand partnerships, and execute major public exhibitions across multiple cities.
Planned Activities:
• Launch large-scale public exhibitions across 10,000 billboards, rotating digital artworks to maximize exposure.
• Develop strategic partnerships with brands, cities, and galleries to enhance visibility and cultural impact.
• Integrate real-time social media capabilities for users to share experiences of digital art installations, boosting visibility and engagement.
Expected Duration: 3 months
Budget Allocation: $20,000
Features Outline:
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NFT Minting & Ownership: Artists will mint digital art as NFTs through Badger DAO, ensuring transparency in ownership and earning potential via Sett Vaults.
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Public Exhibitions: Display digital artworks on high-traffic billboards, offering global exposure to artists and cultural experiences to the public.
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Mobile App: Users can interact with art in real-time, view exhibitions, and purchase digital art through the Artcrush app.
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Brand & Artist Partnerships: Collaborate with brands, galleries, and public institutions to expand reach and provide a culturally enriching experience.
Budget Breakdown
Total Budget Request: $50,000
• Milestone 1: $12,500
• Milestone 2: $17,500
• Milestone 3: $20,000
This budget supports the integration with Badger DAO, scaling the platform, and expanding our public art initiatives, aligning Artcrush’s objectives with the mission of Badger DAO.
Expected Impact
Artcrush aims to democratize access to art by transforming urban spaces into public digital galleries, showcasing NFTs on billboards worldwide. Through our partnership with Badger DAO, we not only make art more accessible but also introduce blockchain and DeFi technologies to a broader audience, blending art with decentralized finance in everyday public spaces.
By integrating Badger DAO’s DeFi infrastructure, such as Sett Vaults, Artcrush will provide artists with the opportunity to earn yield on their digital artworks. This unique model enhances the financial viability of digital art, promoting a new era of art ownership and investment. The mobile app will facilitate seamless interaction with art, allowing users to engage with and purchase NFTs directly, further driving adoption of Badger DAO’s ecosystem among mainstream users.
The anticipated global reach of Artcrush’s exhibitions, supported by our expanding billboard network, will also drive significant visibility and engagement for the Badger DAO ecosystem. Specifically, the project is expected to:
• Increase public engagement with digital art and blockchain technology, fostering a deeper understanding of DeFi and NFTs among a diverse, global audience.
• Expand the utility and adoption of Badger DAO’s products by utilizing Sett Vaults for NFT yield generation, providing a novel use case for bitcoin in the art world.
• Create sustainable revenue streams for artists and collectors by leveraging Badger DAO’s financial products, while also enhancing Artcrush’s ability to reinvest in more exhibitions and technological improvements.
Risks and Mitigation Strategies
Risk 1: Limited funding may hinder expansion.
Mitigation: Secure partnerships with outdoor advertising companies to gain access to billboard spaces at reduced costs.
Risk 2: Technological challenges in maintaining multi-chain support.
Mitigation: Build a scalable, blockchain-agnostic backend that supports multiple chains with low integration overhead.