About
What?
TECHNAI–TECHnology for Non-collecting Art Institutions is a research project that aims to examine how the digital transformation is impacting non-collecting art institutions, and how technology can be used to augment, enhance and scale their distinct mediation and community practices in a sustainable way.
When? & Where?
TECHNAI is a 2-year project (2025-2027) hosted by the School of Fine Arts at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Who?
The project is led by contemporary art curator and museum computing researcher Stéphanie Bertrand
Why?
Non-collecting Art Institutions [NAIs] (e.g., kunsthallen, artist-run-centres, regional galleries, biennials) make up a large and vital part of the art world. Unlike collecting institutions whose mission is driven by object stewardship, NAIs generally aim to support artistic experimentation and serve as cultural and civic hubs for local communities. This has led them to develop a wealth of alternative intermediary and participatory models that remain untapped in the digital domain. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, NAIs have come under increasing pressure to ramp up their digital capacities; but, what this entails remains unclear. Most existing digital cultural applications have been designed for collecting institutions: either to manage and promote digitized collections and heritage sites, or support the creation, display and ownership of born-digital art. Neither of these strategies is tailored to NAIs, which have a different mission and often work with smaller budgets and staff. In response, TECHNAI’s main objective is to research and develop new digital models tailored to the needs, priorities and limitations of NAIs.
How?
TECHNAI will first map out the current landscape by surveying NAIs in Europe and North America to identify prevailing digital strategies, public-facing capacities and constraints, as well as alternative intermediary and participatory practices that might be facilitated, enhanced and/or scaled using digital technology. It will then look for digital applications in non-art sectors that might be repurposed to suit the needs of NAIs, and identify any gaps requiring the development of new applications. TECHNAI’s ultimate goal is to produce a roadmap for NAIs’ digital transformation, and elaborate new models leveraging NAIs’ unique approaches to spur social innovation.