Arts Management and Technology Laboratory

In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Daniel Temkin and Luna Lu discussed the artistic possibilities of code, focusing on esoteric programming languages (esolangs) and how they can function as a medium for art and human expression. Temkin explained that his interest began with experimenting in existing esolangs (like Brainfuck) around 2007-2008, leading him to create his own and document them conceptually, moving away from overly technical documentation. The conversation highlighted how giving up on the idea that programming must be practical allows for artistic exploration, connecting esolangs to idea art, constraint-based work (such as the Oulipo Group), and performance art. Temkin detailed the structure of his book, which presents programming languages as idea-based art, containing both realized works and conceptual prompts inspired by artists like Yoko Ono, and described how his languages — such as Fat Finger, which inspired code poetry, and Folders, which manipulates file system hierarchy — explore themes of collaboration, human irrationality, and the extreme constraints of logical systems. Listeners were also encouraged to explore existing esolangs on the Esolang Wiki before trying to design their own. See AMT Lab Website for transcript SHOW NOTES Book: Forty-Four Esolangs—The Art of Esoteric Code Website: https://danieltemkin.com/About Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danieltemkin_/?hl=en  

Christine Rivera, a researcher focused on motherhood portrayals in media, teams up with Melida Hernandez, a scholar examining the effects of AI on transgender and non-binary individuals. They discuss how biased AI systems misclassify gender identities, impacting self-presentation and well-being. Christine highlights the persistent stereotypes in television that shape public perceptions of motherhood and the economic disparities faced by mothers. Together, they call for more inclusive storytelling and equitable AI design to support marginalized communities.

Alexann Sharp and Lehan Xu discuss the impact of technology on performance industries, particularly VR concerts and broadcast theater. They note that COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of VR concerts, initially by smaller artists due to cost and uncertainty. Examples include Sabrina Carpenter and Kid Leroy's Meta collaborations. They highlight technical challenges like audio quality and headset comfort. In broadcast theater, historical examples date back to the 1930s, with modern initiatives like the Met Opera's "Live in HD" and National Theater Live. Both discuss the balance between accessibility and maintaining the authenticity of live performances.   SHOW NOTES: National Theatre Live/ Met Opera "Live in HD" Amaze VR Transcript available at the Arts Management and Technology Lab: Podcasts 

In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Hannah Brainard and Anuja Uppuluri explore two significant threats to artists and cultural institutions: the ethical and legal implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically its pre-training practices, and the impact of climate change on art and cultural heritage. They discuss how AI models often exploit artists' work without consent or compensation, leading to calls for dynamic consent systems, robust attribution, and fair compensation models. Concurrently, they examine how climate change amplifies natural disasters, posing existential threats to museums and collections, particularly impacting under-resourced and historically marginalized communities. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for systemic change and equitable allocation of resources to ensure the long-term sustainability and preservation of creative works and cultural heritage in both domains.   Transcsript and show notes can be found at https://amt-lab.org/podcasts-interviews/2025/7/ethics-ai-sustainability 

In this episode of Tech in the Arts, Dr. Brett Ashley Crawford of the Arts Management and interviews Bill Updegraff, founder and CEO of Grapeseed Media, a programmatic digital advertising firm. Grapeseed Media, established in 2013, has grown into a trusted partner for brands and agencies in digital advertising, earning recognition on Inc.'s 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies. In this episode, Updegraff explains that Grapeseed Media's initial goal was to provide arts organizations with access to programmatic advertising, a concept he once thought was exclusive to larger corporations. The company's role has since evolved from introducing programmatic advertising to guiding clients through its complexities. He highlights three approaches to programmatic advertising: in-house management, managed service partnerships, or working with a single, agnostic programmatic partner like Grapeseed Media, which provides unbiased access to all programmatic channels and consolidated reporting. Updegraff also differentiates programmatic advertising from search and paid social media, noting that programmatic is more "open market" compared to the "walled gardens" of platforms like Google and Meta. He also discusses the growing integration of programmatic into digital out-of-home advertising, offering hyper-targeting and data collection capabilities. Of course, they also discuss the ethical uses of AI in marketing, particularly in data analysis and creative ideation. Show Notes Grapeseed Media Programmatic Marketing (Video) Bill Updegraff Brett Ashley Crawford, PhD Read the transcript at amt-lab.org. 

Emma Slayton, a data education librarian specializing in AI literacies, and Samantha Shorey, a design researcher focused on automation in the workplace, dive deep into AI's impact on the arts and culture. They discuss AI as a tool for artists instead of a crutch, the importance of responsible data practices, and how technology can enhance creative expression. The conversation also touches on the struggles artists face with AI's influence on their independence and explores thoughtful integration of tech in creative processes.

Eric R. Williams is a Professor at Ohio University and the director of the cinematic virtual reality (Cine-VR) initiatives at the Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab. His work spans award-winning film, television, and interactive media, including screenplays for Universal Studios, Fox Online, and American Movie Classics, as well as numerous published books and podcast series on storytelling. Jordan Herron is an Immersive Media & Audio Producer at GRID Lab. Jordan began working at GRID Lab in 2018 as a student employee and now specializes in audio storytelling, immersive sound design, and Spatial Audio Production. At SONA, Eric and Jordan presented a series of cinematic VR projects designed to support public service training. Using 360° filmmaking, they aimed to evoke empathy and create shared, memorable experiences. See more at amt-lab.org

Amber Johnson is an Associate Professor of Simulation and Game Development at Wake Tech Community College. She has worked in the game industry as an artist and level designer since 2007. She began teaching at Wake Tech in 2014, developing a curriculum that utilizes modern game asset creation techniques. She currently teaches courses in digital art, game programming, photogrammetry, tech art, and VR. On top of teaching, she does freelance work in photogrammetry and 3d renderings. At SONA, Amber presented her project "Crafting the Unreal", which reimagines Edgar Allan Poe's Ligeia as an immersive surrealist stop-motion VR experience by combining the tactile, dreamlike aesthetics of traditional stop-motion animation with the interactivity of VR.  see more at amt-lab.org

Donor advised funds - what are they? How are they being used? And what innovations are these peculiar giving vehicles introducing to the field of philanthropy? In this episode of Tech in the Arts, Lead Research Ian Hawthorne sits down with Rebecca Jacobs, head of community funds at CharityVest, a young, digitally native DAF sponsor.   See more at amt-lab.org

A shocking headline about SXSW's music portion set the internet buzzing. Are big festivals on the decline, or are they simply evolving? Tune in as we break down the changes. See more at amt-lab.org