Inspiring Art: Empowering the Cardano Community Through Creativity

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Tsion Solomon Mekonnen

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Individual

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

9

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We will create art, NFTs, and exhibitions that simplify Cardano’s concepts, enhancing community engagement and understanding through creativity and storytelling in both digital and physical spaces.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The project's outputs, including digital art, NFTs, and educational materials, will be fully open source. This ensures the community can access, modify, and build upon the work to foster further innovation.

[METADATA] Horizons

NFT

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

We perceive the problem as a lack of engagement and understanding of Cardano’s core values and blockchain technology among a broader audience. Blockchain concepts can be abstract and complex, limiting participation, especially among non-technical users. By using art as a universal and engaging medium, we can break down these barriers, making Cardano's mission more relatable and easier to understand.

Our Approach:

We are approaching this issue through a multi-faceted art initiative, blending digital and physical art with blockchain technology. This includes creating unique pieces of visual art inspired by Cardano’s principles and translating them into interactive NFTs. Additionally, we will organize exhibitions, both virtual and in-person, where these pieces can be displayed, discussed, and interacted with. Workshops will also be hosted to explain the technical aspects of blockchain in a creative, accessible format. 

Who Will Our Project Engage?

Our project will engage:

• Artists: By creating opportunities for artists to explore blockchain’s potential and mint their work on Cardano-based NFT platforms.
• General Public: Through exhibitions and workshops, non-technical audiences will be drawn into the Cardano ecosystem via accessible and captivating art.
• Cardano Community: Existing community members will benefit from this new method of sharing and expanding Cardano’s reach.

  

Demonstrating Impact:

We will measure impact through:

• Engagement metrics: Attendance at events and exhibitions, participation in workshops, and online community involvement.
• NFT adoption: The number of minted NFTs and sales generated.
• Community feedback: Direct feedback from participants and the wider Cardano community.

What’s Unique About Our Solution?

Art has the power to convey complex ideas in simple, emotive ways. Our solution is unique because it merges Cardano’s technical prowess with the universal appeal of art, offering a fresh way to communicate blockchain concepts. This is not just a creative project but an educational and community-building initiative. 

Who Benefits and Why This Matters to Cardano:

This project will benefit:

• Artists by providing new opportunities in blockchain-based digital art.
• The community by offering a fun, engaging, and accessible entry point to blockchain.
• Cardano itself by expanding its visibility and appeal to a more diverse and creative audience, ultimately driving more engagement and adoption.

By fostering deeper engagement and understanding, our project will help Cardano grow, attracting new users and building a more vibrant, inclusive ecosystem.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

The "Inspiring Art" project will have a significant positive impact on the wider Cardano community by increasing awareness, engagement, and understanding of Cardano’s core principles through creative and accessible means.

Value to the Cardano Community:

• Broader Engagement: By leveraging art to explain complex blockchain concepts, we will engage a more diverse audience, including non-technical users, artists, and creative

  

• Educational and Community-building: Through art exhibitions and workshops, we will educate the community about the advantages of Cardano’s blockchain, fostering deeper understanding and connection to the ecosyste

• Showcase Cardano’s Ecosystem: By creating NFTs and using Cardano’s blockchain for digital art, we will demonstrate its potential for creator

How We’ll Measure Impact:

We’ll use both quantitative and qualitative metrics to track the success of our project:

• Quantitative Metrics:
• Attendance and Participation: The number of attendees at both physical and virtual exhibitions, as well as workshop participants.
• NFT Engagement: The number of NFTs created and sold through the platform.
• Social Media Metrics: Engagement metrics (likes, shares, comments) on social platforms related to the project.

  

• Qualitative Metrics:
• Community Feedback: Collect feedback from participants and the wider Cardano community on how the art has impacted their understanding of the ecosystem.
• Artist and Participant Testimonials: Gather testimonials from artists and attendees to understand the personal and professional value they gained from engaging with the project.

Sharing Outputs:

• Open Source Accessibility: All artwork, educational materials, and project documentation will be made fully open source and accessible to the communit

  

• Collaboration and Distribution: We will work with Cardano-based platforms to distribute the art as NFTs, and partner with community-driven media outlets to share our progress and output

  

• Public Engagement: The final art pieces and exhibitions will be widely promoted on social media, through the Catalyst platform, and via Cardano community channel

By providing both creative and educational benefits, we will enrich the Cardano community and empower users to explore Cardano’s technology in new, meaningful ways.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our team has the necessary expertise, experience, and a clear process to deliver this project with a high degree of trust and accountability. We bring a blend of artistic, technical, and project management skills, ensuring the project is feasible, well-executed, and delivers on its goals.

Capability to Deliver:

• Art and Design Expertise: Our team includes experienced artists and designers who have worked on digital and physical art projects, including NFT creatio

• Blockchain and NFT Experience: We have team members familiar with Cardano’s blockchain and NFT platform

• Project Management: Our project manager has successfully overseen multiple creative and technical project

• Community Engagement: We have experience working with community-driven projects, particularly in engaging and educating communities through creative initiative

Processes to Validate Feasibility:

• Pilot Art Creation: Before launching the full project, we will create a small set of art pieces as a proof of concep

• Partnerships: We will engage with Cardano-based NFT platforms and community members early in the project to ensure technical support and collaboratio

• Budget and Timeline Management: We will create a detailed project roadmap with specific milestones, deliverables, and a clear budge

• Continuous Community Feedback: We will actively seek feedback from the Cardano community at each step of the proces

Trust and Accountability Measures:

• Transparency: We will publish regular progress reports on the Catalyst platform and social media, detailing our achievements, challenges, and how funds are being use

• Open Source Outputs: All project outputs, including NFTs, artwork, and educational materials, will be fully open source, making them accessible to the communit

• Financial Accountability: We will set up clear financial reporting mechanisms, with a public ledger detailing how Catalyst funds are allocated and spen

• Auditability: To ensure the integrity of the project, we will be open to third-party reviews or audits by community members, allowing for full accountability in the management of the project and its fund

Our past experience, combined with a robust project plan, ensures that we can deliver this project successfully, providing value to the Cardano community with trust and accountability at every stage.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Concept Development and Artist Collaboration

Description: Collaborate with selected artists to develop initial art concepts that embody Cardano’s values and principles. This phase will also include defining the project scope and detailed timelines.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Finalized art concepts from at least five collaborating artists.
• Documentation outlining the project scope, timelines, and objectives.
• Confirmation of NFT minting process with the selected platform.

 Creation and Minting of Digital Art

Description: Complete the creation of the digital art pieces and mint them as NFTs on the Cardano blockchain. This includes ensuring that all artworks are accessible and ready for exhibition.

Acceptance Criteria:

• A minimum of 10 digital art pieces created and minted as NFTs.
• All artwork is listed on a designated NFT platform for visibility.
• Documentation of the minting process and any technical challenges encountered.

 Community Engagement and Workshops

Description: Organize workshops and art exhibitions to engage the community and educate attendees about Cardano’s technology through the lens of art.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Successful hosting of at least three workshops (online or offline) with a minimum of 20 participants each.
• Conduct at least one physical or virtual art exhibition showcasing the NFTs, attracting at least 100 attendees.
• Collection of feedback from participants to assess engagement and impact.

Final Project Report and Evaluation

Description: Compile a comprehensive report evaluating the project's impact, outcomes, and lessons learned. This will also include a video summary of the project.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Submission of a detailed Project Close-out Report that includes:
• Overview of achievements and challenges.
• Financial accounting and use of funds.
• Testimonials from participants and collaborators.
• A video summarizing the project’s journey, showcasing the art, workshops, and community engagement efforts.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

[RESOURCES] Project Team and Roles

Our project team is composed of individuals with extensive experience in blockchain development, digital art, marketing, and project management. Each team member has a specific role critical to the success of "Inspiring Art."

• Tsion Solomon - Project Lead  

• Role: Responsible for overseeing the entire project, ensuring alignment with the Cardano ecosystem, and coordinating between the technical, creative, and operational teams. Manages the overall project timeline and ensures that milestones are met.

• Semere Talegngeta - Lead Blockchain Developer  

• Role: Leads the development of the NFT marketplace and smart contracts on Cardano. Responsible for platform architecture, implementing the minting process, and ensuring the system’s security and scalability.

• Hailemichael Tamene - Art Curator and Community Engagement Lead  

 

• Role: Engages with artists, onboarding them to the platform. Curates exhibitions and digital art collections, organizes workshops, and builds strong relationships within the creative community to drive artist participation and retention.

• Hayat Shimels - Marketing and Communications Manager  

 

• Role: Responsible for promoting the platform to both the art and blockchain communities. Develops marketing campaigns, partnerships with art influencers, and handles community outreach through social media and promotional channels.

• Meti Temesgen -, UX/UI Designer  

• Role: Designs the user interface for the platform, ensuring a smooth and intuitive experience for both artists and collectors. Focuses on creating a user-friendly marketplace for minting and selling NFTs.

Planned Team Expansion

We will be recruiting additional team members with specialized skills to complement the project’s development:

1. Smart Contract Developer  

• Skills Needed: Proficient in Plutus and Cardano smart contracts.  
• Role: Will assist in developing and testing smart contracts for NFT minting and transactions on Cardano. Ensures that the platform is secure and functions seamlessly for artists and collectors.

1. Content and Community Manager  

• Skills Needed: Experience in content creation, social media management, and community building.  
• Role: Will manage communication with artists and collectors, produce educational content about using the platform, and foster a supportive community.

Team Engagement

We have already engaged the core members of our team and have direct communication with the required technical and creative resources via various channels, including Discord and Telegram. Our developers are active within the Cardano development community and have the necessary expertise to deliver the platform as proposed.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Here’s the budget breakdown for the "Inspiring Art" project presented in a list format:

Budget Breakdown:

Artist Fees: 25,000 ADA

• Payment for 5 collaborating artists to create original artworks.

NFT Minting Costs: 4,000 ADA

• Fees for minting approximately 20 NFTs on the Cardano blockchain.

Workshop Materials: 2,000 ADA

• Supplies for workshops (art supplies, digital tools, etc.).

Marketing and Promotion: 5,000 ADA

• Social media campaigns, promotional materials, and collaborations with influencers.

Venue Rental for Exhibitions: 4,500 ADA

• Costs for renting physical space for community events and exhibitions.

Project Management: 7,500 ADA

• Compensation for project management activities, including scheduling and reporting.

Documentation and Reporting: 2,500 ADA

• Costs associated with creating a final project report and video documentation.

Community Engagement Activities: 2,000 ADA

• Incentives for community members participating in workshops (e.g., gift cards, materials).

Legal and Professional Services: 2,500 ADA

• Legal consulting for contracts and compliance, if necessary.

Software Licenses and Tools: 3,000 ADA

• Licenses for marketing tools (e.g., social media management, design software).

Miscellaneous Costs: 2,000 ADA

• Contingency fund for unforeseen expenses or additional materials.

Total Estimated Budget: 75,000 ADA

Description of Third-Party Products and Services:

1. NFT Minting Platform: A Cardano-compatible NFT minting service, with fees based on the number of NFTs created and associated transaction cost
2. Marketing Tools: Subscriptions to social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer) and graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud
3. Venue Rental: Costs for community engagement spaces will be finalized based on location and availabilit
4. Legal Services: Engaging a legal professional for contract reviews and complianc

Alternative Funding Sources:

If project costs exceed the funding request, we will explore:

• Sponsorships: Seeking financial support or in-kind contributions from local businesses or organizations.
• Crowdfunding: Initiating a campaign to gather additional community support.
• Partnerships: Collaborating with community groups or organizations that share our vision.

Management of Funds:

• Regular Financial Reporting: Monthly updates on budget allocation and spending for transparency.
• Clear Accountability: A designated financial officer will oversee the budget and document all expenditures.
• Public Documentation: All financial documents will be made available to the community through project updates.

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Use the response to provide the context about the costs you listed previously, particularly if they are high.

It may be helpful to include some brief information on how you have decided on the costs of the project. 

For instance, can you justify with supporting evidence that costs are proportional to the average wage in your country, or typical freelance rates in your industry? Is there anything else that helps to support how the project represents value for money?