In the two years since NFTs exploded into the mainstream in 2021, then saw prices crater and enthusiasm wane in 2022 before the focus in the early days of 2023 shifted to practical use cases and the broader “Web3” implications of digital art, hundreds (if not thousands) of startups have sought to boost interactivity in the field to attract not just the crypto faithful but the broader public.
One of the latest areas that companies have aimed to make accessible to the culture-loving public is digital art curation — offering the ability to become something of a virtual DIY museum curator in the same way technologies like DALL-E 2 give anyone the ability to be a digital artist with a few keystrokes. The latest example of this is Foundation’s recently launched tool, “Worlds,” which gives anyone the chance to organize digital works into curated galleries.
According to Fast Company, Worlds is notable for a few reasons, namely because it “offers a clear utility for crypto art enthusiasts, but it also aims to attract audiences who haven’t traditionally engaged with NFTs—a goal that could prove challenging given the focus and scope of Foundation’s new features.”
Foundation’s move is also notable for its shift away from the currently dominant “drops” that have largely defined NFT releases over the past two years and towards slower exposure to and enjoyment of digital art by art lovers rather than simply speculators. The first World was created by Monolith gallery, followed by four other digitally oriented galleries and artists.
But non-professionals are the intended bread and butter for Foundation, with those who create a World referred to as “curators” with gallery descriptions limited to 225-375 words. From there, users set a percentage fee for their “curatorial” work that can range from zero to 50 percent and start inviting participants. Will this be enough to attract those newer to the digital art space — both buyers and hopeful curators — to plant their flag on Worlds?
