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How to create a green NFT, plus sustainable museum technology at greenloop

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Ancient of Days green NFT Whitworth greenloop

Is it possible to Mine an art collection without costing the Earth?

It can seem like NFTs are a magic money tree, offering the enticing prospect for museums and art galleries to print digital money. But the opportunities afforded by new technologies offer both rewards and risks.

In particular some forms of blockchain are incredibly bad for the environment. In 2021, Cambridge University researchers estimated Bitcoin’s annual energy consumption to be more than that of Argentina! Ethereum* and bitcoin combined consume almost as much energy per annum as the United Kingdom.

Accurate figures are hard to come by, but sales of NFTs were in the tens of billions of dollars last year, challenging sales of traditional art. Given the shockingly bad environmental cost, action is needed to curb proof-of-work blockchain (China banned mining in 2021) and museums and art galleries need to ensure they don’t add to the problem.

New digital revenue – opportunities and sustainability risks

Chris Michaels Director of Digital, Communications and Technology at the National Gallery in London speaks at greenloop

At greenloop, Blooloop’s online sustainability conference on 19-20 April, we will be looking at the sustainability of these new digital revenue opportunities and the impact of other new museum technologies.

Chris Michaels is Director of Digital, Communications and Technology at the National Gallery in London. He is a Sr. Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London, a Creative Industries Fellow at the Arts and Humanities Research Council and a Bloomberg Technology Fellow. Ericsson named him one of 25 “5G Trailblazers”. He also has a PHD from the University of Bristol and an MPA in Innovation from UCL.

Chris will be talking about the risks and potential opportunities afforded by new technologies for museums in terms of sustainability.

How to create a green NFT

Alistair Hudson, Director of the Whitworth and Manchester Art Gallery will be talking about the Ancient of Days green NFT at greenloop

Alistair Hudson, Director of the Whitworth and Manchester Art Gallery will be talking about the Ancient of Days NFT that they have created with Vastari Labs. This trailblazing project uses Tezos, an energy efficient proof-of-stake algorithm blockchain.

The creation of the “green NFT” is part of a wider research programme with the University of Manchester which will culminate in an exhibition in 2023. Economics the Blockbuster looks at the future of art and how it operates in our rapidly evolving society and new decentralised currency.

Alistair leads the Whitworth with a philosophy of “learning through making and doing”. This experiment in creating a “Robin Hood NFT”, the proceeds of which will go to fund community projects, is part of a wider transformation to a museum dedicated to using art for social change. It is hoped that this will become a blueprint for other galleries seeking to monetize their collections digitally.

Find out more at greenloop.

Inspirational speakers and hot topics at greenloop

greenloop is a one-of-a-kind cross sector event, featuring sustainability leaders from museums, theme parks, zoos and aquariums, sharing insights and practical advice.

From the museum sectors we have Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, M+ Museum, Manchester Museum, Blenheim, Nomad Exhibtions, Buro Happold and Amaala. As well as new tech and green NFTs we’ll be discussing sustainability toolkits, carbon neutral touring exhibitions and thinking about visitor travel.

We also have The United Nations, Walt Disney Imagineering, Merlin Entertainments, Chester Zoo, New England Aquarium, Miral and The Red Sea Project and many more fantastic speakers. Hot topics include BlueTech incubators, getting Board buy-in for sustainable projects, barefoot luxury, supplier chains, how to calculate your carbon footprint and “zoo poo” energy!

greenloop is a must-attend event, crossing boundaries to bring together really thought-provoking insights and ideas around the way visitor attractions can not only minimise their environmental impact on the planet, but also act as catalysts for positive change.

I cannot think of another event which goes near greenloop as a concentrated dollop of practical green inspiration – a must-attend for several of our team.

Dominic Hare, CEO Blenheim

Buy tickets to greenloop

Standard tickets are available at £75 each at early bird rates.

We have an early bird group ticket for operators and institutions for £150 for up to 10 attendees from the same organisation. That’s just £15 each!

Early bird rates offering 25% reduction on full ticket prices are available until 14 April.

Student tickets are £25. Please apply to events@blooloop.com using your university email.

If you have any questions please contact Alice at events@blooloop.com.

All sessions will be live. Recordings will be available for a month after the conference for ticket holders.

Blooloop is supporting EARTHDAY’s tree planting Canopy Project, donating £1 for each ticket sold, and will in addition donate at least 5% of our ticketing revenue to Project Seagrass.

Thanks to our sponsors

* Ethereum announced in May 2021 that would be moving to a proof of stake algorithm “in the upcoming months” but has not done so yet.

Header image kind courtesy of the Whitworth

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Rachel Reed

Rachel Read

Rachel is co-founder and FD of blooloop. She has a degree in engineering from Cambridge University, is a Chartered Accountant and has a certificate in Sustainability Leadership and Corporate Responsibility from London Business School. Rachel oversees our news, events and sustainability.

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