Here's a closer look at highlights from WAC Lab's third season and how to get involved in the fourth season of their cultural institution program.
We've covered WAC Lab extensively in this publication, and they've had another fantastic year. Season 3 had a great turnout, with many projects showcasing their work on Tezos. In this article, let's highlight some projects from season 3 and discuss what you need to do to get involved in season 4!
What is WAC Lab?
WAC Lab is "Web3 for the Arts and Culture", created by We Are Museums to promote Web3 to museums, other cultural institutions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In their efforts to do so, they've worked with Musée d'Orsay, Berlin Institute for Sound & Music, and many more cultural institutions to bring Tezos and Web3 to the traditional art community.
Some of the structure and programs organized by WAC Lab in a typical season are as follows:
WAC Weekly: An online discussion forum for knowledge exchange on Web3 and the arts. This program is open to all art and culture institutions without restrictions.
WAC Museums: A six-week educational and mentoring program focusing on blockchain and Web3 technologies for arts and culture institutions.
WAC Factory: A four-week accelerator program for developing Web3 projects in collaboration with Web3 tech integrators.
WAC Resources: This is a compilation of information and tools to help start a Web3 journey in the arts. A great example is their third handbook, which can be viewed or downloaded here.
If you're a cultural institution or work for one and you have no idea where to start with Web3, you've come to the right place. WAC Lab has been successfully working with cultural institutions and NGOs since 2021. Let's recount their latest season to get an idea of some amazing projects and institutions that go through the program.
Season 3 Highlights
Each season, a unique group of cultural institutions emerges. The neat thing about WAC Lab is that most of these institutions are heavily focused on the Tezos network. This means the program aims to promote the Tezos network to these partners, though it is not a specific requirement.
For Season 3, we saw ten different cultural institutions emerge. Those institutions are as follows:
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Château de Chambord
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Goethe Institut Lisboa
Museo de Arte Popular José Hernández
Museum Ulm
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico
National Swiss Museum
Royal Danish Collections
XR HUB Bavaria
WAC Lab released a 72-page handbook highlighting each of these entities' work throughout the season. Let’s look at a few projects that utilized the Tezos network.
Royal Danish Collections
The Royal Danish Collection's "Human Nature" project, in collaboration with artist Martine Jarlgaard and coder Aldrovanda, brings together Danish heritage and advanced technology to create interactive digital art. Using AI, visitor selfies are transformed into generative NFTs, combining personal portraits with botanical illustrations from Flora Danica and the Japanese art of Kintsugi, symbolizing resilience.
Regarding Tezos usage, fx(hash) provides the minting platform, while KERU manages wallet integration. This unique experience offers visitors a personalized digital souvenir that bridges Danish cultural heritage and environmental awareness through immersive engagement.
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico
For the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico's (MAPR) 25th anniversary, the museum is crafting a unique experience that merges Puerto Rican art with digital technology, engaging both art enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
In collaboration with Tezos-supported fx(hash) and KERU, the project invites visitors to create unique NFTs based on generative works by artist Gisela Colón. Using blockchain and live minting, this immersive exhibition allows attendees to generate limited-edition digital souvenirs. The live minting experience is planned to launch in January 2025 as part of the year-long celebration.
Museo de Arte Popular José Hernández
MAP Museum in Buenos Aires, alongside HASHTAG and fx(hash), is launching an NFT project that blends Argentina's cultural heritage with Web3. Inspired by Tomas Di Teranto's Martín Fierro illustrations, the initiative uses generative art to transform visitor selfies into digital souvenirs.
Set to debut during the Night of the Museums; the project allows attendees to mint personalized NFTs. It merges traditional art with AI and blockchain for a unique educational experience that bridges Argentine tradition and digitization.
Looking Forward
WAC Lab's Season 4 open call invites cultural institutions, curious artists, and NGOs to join the 6-week Web3 incubator to co-develop transformative projects. Selected participants will gain access to mentorship, project management, and a public Demo Day showcase. Make sure to hurry up, though! The deadline for applications is November 1, 2024. The program will also run from January 27 — March 9, 2025.
WAC Lab Season 4 is Coming Up! was originally published in Tezos Commons on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
