Overview

Artists Record the Future: The Future is Digital

A living archive dedicated to contemporary art and visual culture is one that starts now: everything from this point forwards and backwards is recorded and preserved.

It is a constantly evolving, never static repository that gives the often ephemeral nature of the contemporary art world a permanent form.

It reveals the myriad shifting relationships and connections in the production of contemporary visual culture. And it continues to reflect the reality long after it is gone: the works exist and are accessible in perpetuity.

 

Digitally in virtual space, rather than real time in the gallery, is how people will increasingly experience art. It is on the Web that art lovers, galleries, dealers and the public at large will seek out and discover what is out there.

• A Database is a unique open source digital archive system designed to record, store, publicise and preserve contemporary art and visual culture to the highest professional standards.
• Until now, this was not available outside national museums and major galleries. AD bridges the technology gap and opens the way to the future.
• AD continues to evolve through collaborations with forward thinking partners
• AD is at the forefront of the latest thinking on the intrinsic value of art as well as its wider social function.
• Its open source technology democratises art and makes a new relationship between artists and public possible.
• AD is here for you: whatever you choose to do with you collection, AD can do it.
• AD is the creation of the A Foundation, a foundation for the support and exhibition of contemporary art in Liverpool and London, and has also benefited from Arts Council North West support.

To reach this point, in 2006, AD brought together the best of the newest technology from around the world. It tested the system through a pilot project with New Contemporaries and with Greenland Street in Liverpool. The archive of both projects can be accessed on AD.

Ownership is not in question: it remains with the artist and AD will distribute work as instructed.

This is the beauty of the open source principle. Artists and creative organisation can now digitise their work to museum standard and still remain in total control.