PRESS RELEASE 5/5/03
Leonardo/ISAST "Arts Lab" Report Released
for Community Discussion and Debate
http://www.artslab.net

A study released today proposes innovative new approaches and models for art
and technology institutions. The study, sponsored by Leonardo/ISAST and
funded by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, assesses the current
international landscape, lessons learned from recent programs, and new
opportunities that would allow art and technology development in a viable
and sustainable way.

"Arts Lab," proposes a unique hybrid art center and research lab designed to
be "fast, competitive, market-savvy, and not-for-profit." Its goal is to be
financially sustainable with little compromise of artistic or research
values. "Can it work?" asks the Arts Lab website, where researchers and
students have been accumulating data since last September.

"Almost" answers project director Michael Naimark. "Several unique
opportunities exist for supporting tech-based art, such as commercializing
invention and tapping a new generation of sponsors and collectors," Naimark
explains. "But having art and research 100% dependent on the commercial
marketplace misses even larger opportunities. There are examples in Europe,
Japan and Canada where a dose of public or not-for-profit support leverages
more ambitious things to happen, both culturally and commercially. Almost
nothing like these exist for tech-based art in the US."

Naimark, who spent 7 months last year in Japan, has since visited eight
European cities plus several in Canada and the US to visit art centers with
an interest in technology and research labs with an interest in art. "They
come from different pasts and have different cultures," he said. "Also,these
are particularly challenging times in terms of the economy. Everyone seems
excited about the future but uncertain about the present."

"We've decided to make Naimark's report available online immediately," says
Leonardo Executive Editor Roger Malina. "It's very timely, and we feel this
is the time to rethink what works and what doesn