Founding of the Virtual Museum of Contemporary Art

Our intention is to introduce the Virtual Museum of Contemporary Art
(VMCA), a new digital-based museum. The VMCA is computer based and
accessible via a BBS on the Internet or, within two to three years, via
interactive television. The museum "building" and exhibitions exist only
in the electronic world. The distinguishing feature of the VMCA is that
everything shown has been created and visualized with the help of
computers. We will continually be showing and distributing the museum's
exhibitions in a format that we consider matches up to our demands on
technical quality. Technique should not become a barrier between
observer and work of art. The museum will cater to both the Internet
user and traditional art audiences. As there do not exist any similar
established institutions this project is of national, if not
international, importance.

Since April 1994 we have been evaluating technical details, both when
considering the museum's construction as well as various forms of
distribution. We have by now agreed to follow several technical
standards. The museum will be accessible from the late summer of 1996 on
the Internet, at which point users will be able to download museum
material. A quicktime movie will contain a guided tour of the exhibition
and museum. Concurrent with the expansion of the electronic highways,
for example the new ATM-nets, we will be able to offer interactive
movement in our museum. Sitting at home by one's TV or computer, one
will be able to move freely within the museum and amongst its works of
art.

Internationally established artists will be invited, with the help of
the museum staff, to create material. Artists do not need any prior
knowledge of computers in order to exhibit with us. We want to create a
forum where the artists are given the opportunity to develop their ideas
using advanced digital techniques. Exhibitions at the VMCA will reflect
the contemporary international art scene and will rotate approximately
four or five times a year. An exhibition guide for the next two years is
forthcoming.

Exhibition catalogs on interactive CD-ROM will be produced in
conjunction with current exhibitions. We will also provide a service for
those people who do not have computer access by arranging visiting hours
at our offices. Consequently they will be able to view the exhibitions
in the Virtual Museum using our computers.

An advisory board consisting of internationally established artists,
curators and critics will be given observational status in our
activities. The museum director will select and invite artists to
exhibit. The idea is to find those artists who can make full use of what
the virtual world has to offer in order to expand the frontiers of
artistic creativity.

The Virtual Museum of Contemporary Art is a forum for the virtual
experience of contemporary art. We consider art to be on the threshold
of a new technique, making accessible to all artists new roads,
expressions and media for their creativity.