1.Project Description

a. What is Expo Dao Ashé 2024:

Expo Dao Ashé 2024 is an NFT Expo/Metaverse and virtual reality project, followed by an in-real-life (IRL) streamed educational and showcasing event in two cities, Madrid and Barcelona, in Spain. It has been supported by the Arbitrum Oasis Quick Grant fund (https://app.charmverse.io/oasis-onchain/dao-ash-expo-2024-4543417656173734) and it will take place from July to October 2024.

The main goal of Expo Dao Ashé 2024 is to showcase cutting-edge art technologies on the blockchain. It will feature artists from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds who will be onboarded to Arbitrum. The Expo will be both an educational arts event that creates materials for the Arbitrum ecosystem, and an exhibition of artwork from our DAO on Arbitrum, with a special focus on gender and racial diversity, to address the lack of women and non-binary people on the blockchain.

b. Dao Ashé's Mission

Since 2022, Dao Ashé has worked towards empowering and educating artists and activists from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), neurodiverse, LGTBIQ+ communities, and allies.

We have established a Discord channel and a strong Twitter presence, and we have conducted free training events, online discussions, and workshops. DAO Ashe’s artists’ work has been selected in several curated showcases of NFT art: INA DAO, NFTianguis, Near, Tezos, Arbitrum, Avalanche and others.

2. Funding needed

We applied for an Oasis Onchain quick grant and asked for 5,000ARB, which has been accepted, and we feel so proud and happy about this. The Oasis grant will cover the creation of a collection of NFTs and the onboarding of artists, as well as showcasing their artwork at four different venues in Madrid and Barcelona.

We are building on the success and acquired knowledge of our Dao Ashé Expo 2023 virtual exhibition and project, as we are transitioning to IRL events and workshops with funding assistance.

We want to add a strong workshop package in the fashion of Expo NFT ARTE & TECNO "FUSIÓN PHYGITAL" IRL + NFT in EXFABRICAMX, Mexico City, Conectao's (https://x.com/conectaosemilla) wonderful NFT/Virtual Reality Expo and educational event on the Avalanche ecosystem. In this expo Alma (VJ Deliria), one of DAO Ashé members and founder of NFTianguis is also providing an educational session.

We want Alma to coordinate a number of workshops in Expo Dao Ashé 2024 focused on the Arbitrum ecosystem, which she also knows very well. This will guarante the input of a whole collective of LATAM diasporic artists and technologists, and it will enrich our partnership with NFTianguis, as well as creating a new and exciting alliance with Conectao.

Video of Expo NFT Event in Mexico City, by Conectao: https://x.com/i/status/1817038709855846632

We are applying to Gitcoin to pay for a full package of extra workshops we want to offer our artists and audiences on metaverse building, virtual reality design, NFT minting and social media marketing for artists. Alma, VJ Deliria is our workshop facilitator superstar, and it would be wonderful if she could come over from New York and give the workshop in Madrid.

If we get enough money, we would also be able to offer the same workshops in Barcelona, where we are also going to showcase our exhibition thanks to Oasis Quick Grants and onboard different audiences, collectors and artists who will learn about Arbitrum and public goods.

We also want invite two groups of performance artists to participate in the event and create a live NFT collection. This is an experiment on phygital (mix of digital and physical) technology, and we believe that it will wow audiences and collectors alike. In this experiment we will offer a live auction of the work, and the whole event will be streamed as it happens.

The artists are Luisa Ordóñez (https://www.luisaordonez.com/) and Chakiñán Mutante (https://linktr.ee/chakinanmutante), who are stretching the limits between virtual reality, 3D and performance arts, using decolonial language to push the boundaries of independent art and the normative status quo which ignores the Latinx experience and world view.

Our new collaboration and partnership with Oasis Quick Grants Fund is extremely exciting for us, and it will make a world of difference to the future of DAO Ashé, as well as bringing diverse communities, women and non-binary people to Arbitrum.

3. Success Potential

a. Team Experience:

Our team has experience building a metaverse site in Spatial and creating NFT collections, such as the Dao Ashé Expo 2023 NFT collection (https://www.mintbase.xyz/contract/afrolatinexfuturismo.mintbase1.near/nfts/all/0) , which included Afro Latinx & Indigenous Neurodiverse Futurism art. You can see a quick video (https://youtu.be/sYR99_ExhgY?si=GDoDHQnPmE-iLzCp) and a playlist video of our metaverse gallery events (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIxHp7jxe0op_tfM6iGaG8jdHFqAE0o72).

We have been very active in the NEAR ecosystem, but for the moment NEAR has frozen all grants given to creative projects, and we are looking for a home in the Ethereum ecosystem where art and technology are valued, and our interest and principles of sustaining a more inclusive and welcoming Web3 are upheld. We hope that building on Arbitrum will give us that edge, support and exposure.

We are well versed in harnessing diverse talents and experiences to propel cultural initiatives forward that fully embrace the challenges of Web3 onboarding and the blockchain. Our team embodies a commitment to diversity, social justice, and the empowerment of marginalised communities through Web3 digital arts technologies.

As artists in our own right, we express our creativity through Web3 platforms, leveraging them to amplify underrepresented voices and foster inclusive cultural narratives in the collective projects that we are involved in.

Additionally, our governance structure, operating as a DAO ensures transparency and collective decision-making, aligning with our principles of democratic participation and equitable resource allocation.

Our team has substantial experience in Web3 digital arts and marketing for our work, utilising blockchain technology to create immersive and innovative artistic expressions that push the boundaries of traditional art forms and promote inclusivity in digital spaces. We are in touch with about 20 artists that will be interesting in minting their work for our expo. Some of the artists have collectors that already buy their work in the Ethereum ecosystem.

Our Metaverse programmer, Andrea, is the founder of AXMC. She has robust background in web3 technologies and digital transformation, Andrea excels in integrating cutting-edge blockchain solutions into diverse industries. She is passionate about leveraging technology for societal benefit. The objective of the mission is to connect immersive worlds in Unity with the functionality of smart contracts.

b. Community support:

We have established close associations with several collectives and groups, including La Parcería (https://youtu.be/FQMKvsdgmAM?si=Zukz69kedxPrcbib), Plataforma Placa (https://www.facebook.com/plataformaplaca), and NFTianguis (https://www.nftianguis.com/) who all empower creators from the Global South in the diaspora.

We are also collaborating with technological partners such as Madrid Innovation (https://www.madridinnovation.es/), Siroco Arts Lab (https://siroco.es/), and Barcelona Activa (https://www.barcelonactiva.cat/).

We will work closely with these cultural collectives to provide artists with opportunities to forge new links. The support and enthusiasm from these partners will enrich and propel Expo Dao Ashé 2024.

4. Mission

a. Adoption of Cutting-Edge Technologies Blockchain and NFTs:

We have been working with the metaverse and experimenting with different types of events that could be conducted in that space.

We believe that an NFT Expo should experiment with formats and find use cases for NFTs. Our new collection for Arbitrum will include digital illustrations, photography, 3D, animation, film, poetry, AI, and music NFTs.

In our experimentation path, we pursue the many different ways to work with NFTs. To this end we will encourage the public engaging with the blockchain from the beginning of the event by issuing an NFT which will be used as a premium visitors’ ticket. The public will be able to quickstart their introduction to Web3 by scanning a QR code on entry and issue a POAP (and also open a wallet, if needed).

Two groups of artists from our DAO will do several live performance arts pieces. Afterward, the photographs and videos taken will be immediately uploaded as NFTs for the visitors to mint at the event.

b. Metaverse Integration:

By incorporating a metaverse component, the project leverages the growing interest in virtual and augmented reality experiences. This innovation keeps the project at the forefront of technological advancement and appeals to tech-savvy and curious audiences.

In this project, we will launch the expo on our own metaverse server that will connect our NFTs from Arbitrum marketplaces where our collection of NFTs will be minted. We will assess which NFTs marketplace is better for each type of arts piece.

Our collection will include 3D sculptures, and we will rent a 3D printer to print one of the 3D NFTs at the event. We will also feature a video wall to show the metaverse gallery, and visitors will be able to interact with it with mixed reality glasses.

c. Tangible public goods use case:

This project has a tangible use case in its ability to economically empower artists, bridge the digital divide, provide a sustainable and scalable model, and contribute to solving global challenges. It will reward artists for their participation, and also give them an opportunity to earn more money as workshop facilitators in the in-real-life (IRL) event, which will also be streamed over social media.

By fostering a more inclusive and equitable digital space, the project enhances the lives of individual artists and contributes to broader goals of social justice and technological advancement. DAO Ashé 2024 Expo will be a free event. Our wish is to onboard as many people as possible to Arbitrum.

5. Does our project solve a problem for the ecosystem?

Dao Ashé 2024 Expo will give voice and training opportunities to BIPOC, LGBTQIA and neurodiverse artists. These diverse communities ought to participate in Web3 because these groups are traditionally marginalised and underrepresented in the digital space. By providing a platform for them to share their thoughts and perspectives, Web3 can create a more inclusive and equitable digital space.

Additionally, this type of participation can lead to the development of innovative solutions to global challenges that may be overlooked if these communities are not given a voice. It is by creating a more diverse digital space that Web3 can help break down the digital divide and provide new opportunities for these communities to participate in the global economy.

6. Competing alternatives

• Decentraland/CryptoVoxels and Spatial
• Description: These are virtual reality platforms where users can create, experience, and monetise content and applications.
• Comparison: While these projects provide a broad platform for various digital experiences, Expo Dao Ashé 2024 focuses specifically on showcasing diverse and underrepresented artists.

Also, our Metaverse is not owned by a digital platform, it is our own server, so we have all the freedom to configure it as we wish.

• NFT platforms: SuperRare, Mintbase, Rarible:
• Description: Digital art marketplaces where artists can create, sell, and collect one-of-a-kind digital artworks.
• Comparison: While most marketplaces focus on digital art sales, Expo Dao Ashé 2024 aims to build a comprehensive metaverse and IRL event, providing education, networking, and exhibition opportunities for diverse artists.

We are building on our experience and success with our Expo Dao Ashé 2023 project which included an Afro Latinx & Indigenous Neurodiverse Futurism NFT collection on Near and a metaverse site in Spatial (https://www.spatial.io/s/EXPO-ART-ASHE-2023-G-LINKS-63f65dc32ba92dce71d93f60?share=5311307412533548143) In our Expo Dao Ashé 2023 we created partnerships with other cultural agents and utilised the synergy created in our encounters to develop training events, exhibitions, etc.

You can see a quick video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYR99_ExhgY and the full playlist of our gallery events here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIxHp7jxe0op_tfM6iGaG8jdHFqAE0o72