The cultural landscape is rapidly evolving, with technology playing a pivotal role in shaping how artists and creators protect their intellectual property. The recent kick-off meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria marked the beginning of an ambitious project aimed at enhancing the skills of cultural operators in safeguarding copyright through the innovative use of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).
Project Overview and Objectives
The project, with a duration of 20 months from January 1, 2023, to September 10, 2023, brings together three key partners: Culture Hub Bulgaria, Innetica Spain, and Creator Romania. Operating under Erasmus+ KA2, Small-scale partnerships in Adult Education, this endeavor seeks to address the growing challenges faced by artists, especially in the digital age.
Unlocking the Potential of NFTs
The project delved into the concept of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), which have gained prominence as digital assets representing ownership and authenticity on decentralized and transparent blockchains, notably Ethereum. NFTs have the potential to revolutionize copyright management by offering proof of ownership, unchangeable records, smart contracts, royalties, and resale rights. However, they also highlight the absence of a legal framework and robust copyright enforcement mechanisms.
Project Objectives
The primary objective of this initiative is to empower cultural operators and contractors to harness digital tools for content creation, monetization, and intellectual property protection. Beyond this, the project has secondary objectives, including the exchange of best practices, knowledge acquisition, and the establishment of a Digital Competence Center.
Target Groups
The project will cater to three key target groups:
Independent artists and freelancers, with a focus on young talents and micro-enterprises in the entertainment sector.
Artists and performers facing challenges due to geographic and economic constraints, as well as those from diverse backgrounds.
Cultural operators and their teams of trainers and experts.
Main Activities
The project will carry out the following main activities:
Activity 1: Research, Analysis, Support Guidelines
This phase involves an in-depth examination of existing technological possibilities and legal requirements relevant to artists operating in the digital realm. It aims to produce an analytical report with recommendations and guidelines tailored to the specific needs of the target groups.
Activity 2: Development of Digital Competence Center
The project seeks to enrich the Digital Competence Center (DCC) with educational resources. Additionally, it will generate recommendations to enhance existing copyright management regulations. Towards the end of the project, a practical training event will be conducted by experts from the DCC.
Project Events
Crucial project events were discussed and confirmed in terms of venue and dates. These include:
TPM2 in Spain (February 12-14, 2024), which will focus on presenting analysis and guidelines.
TPM3 in Romania (July 11, 2024), aimed at presenting educational resources and recommendations.
A Pilot Training event (10-14 September 2024) with the location yet to be decided.
What’s Next: Activity 1
In the forthcoming months, the project will proceed with the following activities:
Analysis of existing technology opportunities, involving a questionnaire to be completed by all project partners.
Development of recommendations for Open Educational Resources (OERs).
Creation of guidelines for the target group on utilizing the technology, with translations by project partners, and publication on the Competence Center’s page. These tasks are expected to be completed by the end of February 2024.
The Cultural Hub Bulgaria, as the host of this kick-off meeting, stands committed to the successful implementation of this ambitious project. As we look forward to the future, we anticipate groundbreaking developments in the realm of copyright protection and cultural enrichment.
