A new conference aims to highlight the connection between technology and art.

CINCINNATI – A new tech conference aims to showcase Cincinnati as a hub of innovation in both innovation and the arts.

Leaders from the arts, technology, government and finance sectors gathered at the Art Academy of Cincinnati to announce the launch of MidwestCon, which will be held at the Art Academy on Wednesday, August 12-14.

Adults need a ticket. Admission is free for children 16 and under.

The three-day conference will highlight how new technologies are advancing the fields of arts and culture. They also emphasize how Cincinnati is, and in some ways can be, a leader in those areas.

The event will focus on three specific technological developments: the Metaverse, Web3 (or Web 3.0) technology, and NFTs (Non-Fightable Tokens).

Rob Richardson, founder of Disrupt Art, announced the debut of MidwestCon, an art and technology conference in Cincinnati. (Casey Weldon/Spectrum News 1)

“Innovation doesn’t just exist on the West Coast. It does not live only on the east coast. said Rob Richardson, founder of Midwestcon. It’s here in Cincinnati. We can be a spark for innovation in the Midwest.

Richardson is the CEO of DisruptArt, an organization focused on promoting NFTs and the artists who create them. Their mission is to provide “an interactive space for artists, collectors, and activists to transform the impact of art.”

This new technology is “shaping the world economy,” said Richardson. It can also help the Cincinnati region become a key hub in those areas.

Cincinnati resident Nick Fontova, CMO for First Home of the NFL Community, pointed out how difficult it is to sell art. He called out obstacles such as knowing the right gallery dealer or living in the right city.

But NFT believes technology has opened up a world for artists and art collectors in Cincinnati. “It leveled the playing field.

MidwestCon hopes to help local artists monetize their work and educate local collectors on how to expand their collections.

Richardson feels there are many innovators in the technology and creative spaces in Cincinnati. Several high-profile content creators and collectors, such as the photographer, were mentioned in Wednesday’s press release Isaac Wright, also known as “Drift,” from the Price Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati.

However, many people are yet to discover the technology including NFTs.

To be clear, Art An NFT is a digital version of a real-world object, such as art, music, or video.. People buy and sell them online. What makes NFTs unique is often a unique code — “or a unique fingerprint,” Richardson said.

NFTs undermine that general theory, he said.

Richardson admits there’s still a lot of confusion out there about what they actually are and how they work. He also said that there are many people who are afraid of being “deceived.”

Because of this knowledge gap, the conference plans to devote a large portion of the first day to education. Attendees can take classes, attend information sessions, or try out new technologies like augmented reality headsets.

“It’s important for people to have the foundational blocks — they understand what this space is, why it’s valuable, and how it fits into the space,” he said.

The remaining three days will be a mix of events, from panel discussions to “funny demos,” musical performances and fashion shows for artists and other creatives to use technology to develop and then turn their work into a career. An NFT.

Richardson said there will also be plenty of time for networking and other events.

Deputy Mayor Jan Michele Lemon Kearney sat down with Richardson last year to talk about the conference. He was throwing around words – blockchain, Web3, NFTs. She admits she didn’t know what he was talking about at the time.

But what she does understand is that these new technologies represent a $100 billion industry, Lemon Kearney said.

That’s why Cincinnati hosts events like MidwestCon and BlackTech Week, which took place in Cincinnati last month.

“This is what Cincinnati needs,” she said. “We have to understand. We have to be on top of it. That’s how we grow. That’s how we grow our business. It’s how we bring young talent here and how we keep our talent here.”

The origin of the first MidwestCon is the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

One of the first locations is the Academy’s Site 1212 engagement site.

On the surface, an art college might not be the most obvious first choice to host a technology conference, Girandola admits.

Founded in the mid-19th century, the institute has spent decades teaching students traditional arts such as painting, sculpture, and photography.

But innovations in technology are opening new doors for the students to not only test their creativity but also utilize their talents.

Innovation never sleeps as we move forward with new digital technologies,” he added. “The Art Academy of Cincinnati and our students are expected to lead the change in how innovation transforms and inspires the future.”

The idea of ​​combining art and technology makes perfect sense to Pete Blackshaw, CEO of Cincinnati startup incubator Syntrifus. Because both are focused on two key ideas: innovation and pushing boundaries.

During a recent event at Centrifuge’s home base, Union Hall in Over-the-Rhine, several Cincinnati-based organizations presented how they are using these new technologies to support the arts.

Cincinnati Children’s Theater used an augmented reality headset to give patrons a virtual tour of their new theater space, which is still under construction. The organization will use the tool to raise funds for the project.

Gavin Weiss, 19, has worked with the University of Cincinnati to create a platform that allows students to create NFTs for free. It is called Prospect Gallery Project.

The artists will receive 70% of the sales, Weiss said, with the remaining 30% going to fund scholarships and cryptocurrency research at UC.

At the next table, ArtsWave demonstrated a Pokémon GO-like video game that they hope will make museum exhibits and art installations more engaging.

“Our goal is to keep the arts alive in Cincinnati,” said Jenny Barton, the show’s creator. With advances in technology, we can do exactly that.

During a recent trip to Los Angeles, Blackshaw took notes on what Cincinnati needs to do and emulate the success taking place there and across the country.

While Cincinnati says it’s doing a lot of things well, Blackshaw feels the region can win in the “metaverse,” a local arts community that takes advantage of its competitive advantage.

“The opportunity is huge and we have to take it,” Blackshaw said.

More Information is available on the MidwestCon website..