Tezos Foundation, a Swiss non-profit, recently announced a $1.23 million (£1 million) donation to a fund that will be used to gather non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from rising African and Asian artists. Misan Harriman, a prominent photographer and one of the pioneers in the creation and gathering of NFTs, will curate the artists’ work.
According to a source in The Art publication, Harriman, the chair of London’s Southbank Center complex of creative venues, would also focus on acquiring works by artists from locations with little representation in the NFT group.
Harriman stated of his work as curator of the Tezos Foundation’s so-called permanent art collection:
“ As the first curator of this collection, I want to make sure the world sees the diverse voices that are making truly extraordinary work[s] with art. The Tezos Foundation Permanent Collection will support and celebrate a new generation of artists that have chosen a smart contract-enabled path to be their true selves.”
While critics of NFTs have expressed worries about cryptocurrency volatility, supporters of the underlying blockchain technology believe NFTs will break down long-standing boundaries in the art industry. While obstacles persist, according to the Tezos Foundation, which is an arm of the Tezos Blockchain, they cannot impede the expanding adoption of NFTs.
Meanwhile, Arthur Breitman, a co-founder and early architect of Tezos, commented how the collection boosts awareness for Web3 artists. He also stated, “This project, in collaboration with Misan Harriman’s talent and expertise, allows us to create a bespoke destination to elevate digital artists who turn to Tezos for a sustainable way of sharing their work with the world.”
