DESIGN DISPATCH

Facebook Dedicates $1 Billion to Content Creators, and Other News

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Facebook dedicates $1 billion to content creators to generate a new revenue stream. 

In an aggressive move to station Facebook in the digital limelight, the social media giant plans to pay $1 billion to content creators who make use of their diverse portfolio of services. Incentivising creators to issue ads on Facebook and Instagram, the company plans to disburse its funds by the end of 2022. Although the reward is available for creators who have been invited by Facebook, the money would be accessible to a broader range of creators during the latter part of year. The program intends to shape Facebook as “the best platforms for millions of creators to make a living,” writes Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.  

Jersey City is considering stricter building inspections after the Surfside collapse.

After the tragic collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, Jersey City officials plan to introduce a bill that would require periodic structural and facade inspections on certain buildings by a licensed architect or engineer. “Since the sad news from Florida, we’ve had Jersey City residents in several buildings reach out with the knowledge that their condo boards are delaying work because of the potential cost to residents,” Mayor Steven Fulop says. “There aren’t many policies in the state to protect in this area, so we’ll be introducing some locally.”

Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Louvre Abu Dhabi launches an annual show for emerging artists with a cash prize.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is launching an annual exhibition for emerging artists, each of whom will receive a cash prize of $50,000 in collaboration with the watch brand Richard Mille. The inaugural show, titled “Memory, Time and Territory,” pushes artists “to reflect on the country’s legacy as a territory where questions of past, present, and future combine and overlap.” As voiced by HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the novel event “is the latest reminder that Abu Dhabi is accelerating its support and promotion of local creative talent, while simultaneously cementing its position as an attractive and inspiring destination for global creatives.”

Italy’s Istituzione Bologna Musei reopens with new tech that tracks visitor engagement.

As Covid-19 restrictions relax, Italy is hailing patrons back to their captivating museums and galleries with an added surprise. In an effort to aid curators to determine their most popular artworks, ENEA is partnering with Istituzione Bologna Musei to test 14 modules of their ShareArt system. By placing cameras by exhibits, the novel technology monitors the volume of visitors observing the specific artwork, including the time elapsed and the distance of sight. Instilled with the ability to determine the desirability of specific artifacts, galleries can revamp layouts, rearrange hardware, and reschedule exhibitions in the most financially conducive manner. “Thanks to simple data elaboration, an observer’s gaze can be translated into a graphic,” researcher Stefano Ferriani recorded. “We can detect where most of peoples’ attention is concentrated.”

“How to Sell Hardware” by Theaster Gates. Photography by Sara Pooley, courtesy Gray Chicago/New York and Theaster Gates

Theaster Gates’s latest installation revitalizes an erstwhile hardware store in Chicago.

Theaster Gates’ third solo exhibition with Grey Gallery is engaging with the history of its venue. “How to Sell Hardware” sees the artist revitalize the former True Value hardware store, a family-owned venture that was once part of a vibrant community within Chicago’s Southside in the ‘70s and ‘80s. “This exhibition examines my insistence that the world is not separated between high objects and low objects,” says Gates, “but rather, that the artist has the capacity to determine the designation of each.” 

Art Basel launches a biweekly podcast about topics shaping today’s creative landscape.

Art Basel is launching “Intersections: The Art Basel Podcast,” which will feature global director Marc Spiegler in conversation with thought leaders across art, architecture, music, fashion, design, and literature on the currents and topics shaving today’s creative landscape. The series launches on July 19 with two episodes featuring architect David Adjaye and music producer and art collector Swizz Beatz. Upcoming episodes will feature businesswoman Pamela Joyner, 303 Gallery founder Lisa Spellman, and artist Kim Gordon. The podcast will be available on all streaming platforms and free to download on Art Basel’s website.

Image courtesy Deep Dive Dubai

Today’s attractive distractions:

What could be the world’s biggest greenhouse stars in the Venice Biennale…

…while the world’s deepest pool plunges divers deep into a sunken city in Dubai.

A group of gamers are suing Sega over a mysteriously rigged arcade game.

East Village locals aren’t thrilled with the advent of outdoor dining in New York.

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