Arts Management and Technology Laboratory

Eric R. Williams is a Professor at Ohio University and the director of the cinematic virtual reality (Cine-VR) initiatives at the Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab. His work spans award-winning film, television, and interactive media, including screenplays for Universal Studios, Fox Online, and American Movie Classics, as well as numerous published books and podcast series on storytelling. Jordan Herron is an Immersive Media & Audio Producer at GRID Lab. Jordan began working at GRID Lab in 2018 as a student employee and now specializes in audio storytelling, immersive sound design, and Spatial Audio Production. At SONA, Eric and Jordan presented a series of cinematic VR projects designed to support public service training. Using 360° filmmaking, they aimed to evoke empathy and create shared, memorable experiences. See more at amt-lab.org

Amber Johnson is an Associate Professor of Simulation and Game Development at Wake Tech Community College. She has worked in the game industry as an artist and level designer since 2007. She began teaching at Wake Tech in 2014, developing a curriculum that utilizes modern game asset creation techniques. She currently teaches courses in digital art, game programming, photogrammetry, tech art, and VR. On top of teaching, she does freelance work in photogrammetry and 3d renderings. At SONA, Amber presented her project “Crafting the Unreal”, which reimagines Edgar Allan Poe's Ligeia as an immersive surrealist stop-motion VR experience by combining the tactile, dreamlike aesthetics of traditional stop-motion animation with the interactivity of VR.  see more at amt-lab.org

Donor advised funds - what are they? How are they being used? And what innovations are these peculiar giving vehicles introducing to the field of philanthropy? In this episode of Tech in the Arts, Lead Research Ian Hawthorne sits down with Rebecca Jacobs, head of community funds at CharityVest, a young, digitally native DAF sponsor.   See more at amt-lab.org

A shocking headline about SXSW's music portion set the internet buzzing. Are big festivals on the decline, or are they simply evolving? Tune in as we break down the changes. See more at amt-lab.org

In this episode of Tech in the Arts, Dr. Stephen Neely, associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Music, discusses eurhythmics, a century-old practice focusing on the bodily engagement of music, and extends these principles to modern interaction design. The conversation delves into the evolution of design practices and the need for a more holistic, user-centric approach in the digital age. Dr. Stephen Neely is an associate professor of Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Dalcroze license at Carnegie Mellon University School of Music, who also presents hands-on workshops in the US and around the globe focusing on the overlaps between music, design, body aesthetics, performance, and experience. See more at amt-lab.org 

How will Spotify's new “Streaming 2.0” deal with Universal Music Group reshape the music industry? How have music streaming platforms impacted culture and its artists? In this “Let's Talk” episode of AMT Lab's Tech in the Arts podcast, Podcast Producer Jinghong Gong and Lead Researcher Ian Hawthorne discuss the latest headlines and newly released books that are shaping the music landscape. see more at amt-lab.org

As we step into a new year and new presidential administration, the media and technology landscape faces some significant shifts. While AI companies partner with major media outlets to train their models, social media platforms make changes that leave users in seeking decentralized platforms. In this Let's Talk episode of the Tech in the Arts Podcast, AMT Lab's Lead Researcher, Ian Hawthorne, and Chief Editor, Hannah Brainard, dive into the latest headlines. see more at amt-lab.org

What are the latest AI-powered tools transforming the market for art and cultural goods? In this Let's Talk episode of the Tech in the Arts podcast, AMT Lab's Executive Director, Dr. Brett Ashley Crawford, and Lead Researcher, Ian Hawthorne, explore cutting-edge platforms like NALA, Blendbox, Spines, and Encore—and how these innovations are reshaping the way we create and consume art. see more at amt-lab.org

In this episode of Tech in the Arts, AMT Lab Lead Researcher Ian Hawthorne sits down with Stewart Urist, General Manager of the Pittsburgh Public Theater, to discuss their transition to Sage Intacct, a cloud-based financial management software. They delve into the challenges of migrating from a legacy system, the benefits of automation and AI in financial processes, and how tools like Sage can empower nonprofit organizations to streamline operations and improve budget transparency. Whether you're considering a software transition or just curious about nonprofit financial management, this episode offers valuable insights for organizations of all sizes. Check out show notes and more episodes at https://amt-lab.org/podcasts-interviews

In this episode of the Tech in the Arts podcast, Keith Eich shares insights from his career journey with AMT Lab's Technology Manager, Jinghong Gong, exploring his experience at NBCUniversal, the founding of Hulu, and his transition from media to legal tech and public service.   Keith Eich is an experienced media and technology executive with over 20 years of expertise in innovation and product development. He served as Director of Digital Distribution Operations at NBCUniversal from 2004 - 2011, playing a key role in deals like the original Hulu partnership. After his time in media, he transitioned to LegalTech, leading product development for a startup that revolutionized consumer access to legal services. Keith is a Carnegie Mellon graduate and holds an MBA from USC. He currently serves as a City Councilman and former Mayor of La Cañada Flintridge.    Check out show notes and more episodes at https://amt-lab.org/podcasts-interviews 

What happened to the AI bill SB-1047? And how can artists advocate for themselves amid technological changes? In this Let's Talk episode of the Tech in the Arts Podcast, AMT Lab's Chief Editor of Research, Hannah Brainard, and Lead Researcher, Ian Hawthorne, dive into the recent developments in AI policy and its impact on artists.

In this episode of Tech in the Arts podcast, nonprofit technology consultant Karen Graham shares insights from her research with AMT Lab's Executive Director and Publisher, Dr. Brett Ashley Crawford, on how organizations choose, evaluate, and manage donor software systems.  Karen Graham is a nonprofit technology strategist with over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, consulting, and capacity building. She specializes in CRM and donor management systems, guiding organizations through every stage of software selection and optimization to better achieve their missions. With leadership experience at Tech Impact, Idealware, and MAP for Nonprofits, Karen helps nonprofits use technology to work more effectively, foster innovation, and better achieve their goals.

How is your data being used? And what policies are in place to protect you? In this Let's Talk episode of the Tech in the Arts Podcast, AMT Lab's Executive Director and Publisher, Dr. Brett Ashley Crawford, and Chief Editor of Research, Hannah Brainard, dive into the latest headlines.

In the first episode of the 2024-2025 season of Tech in the Arts, hear from Jessica Bowser Acrie, the director of the Arts Management and Public Management programs at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College. Having recently attended the Christie's Art + Tech Summit, Bowser Acrie shares her key takeaways for arts managers.

Roopa Gogineni is a photographer, an award-winning filmmaker, and a photojournalist from West Virginia now based between Paris and Atlanta. In this episode Roopa Gogineni talks with AMTLab Podcast Producer, Jabrenee Hussie, about  photojournalism and filmmaking. With a background in Diplomatic History and African Studies Roopa shares their experiences as a freelance filmmaker and photographer working in East Africa. She highlights the importance of mindfulness and responsible storytelling as one documents significant events in lands that aren't their own. Roopa also discusses one of her notable works, SuddenlyTV that  documents a portion of the Sundanese Revolution that earned the SXSW Special Jury Award and experiences from the creation of that piece as well as being awarded for it.   

In this podcast, artist and land conservationist Haley Mellin talks with the Arts Management and Technology Lab at Carnegie Mellon University about actions artists and arts organizations of all sizes can take to measure their climate impact, reduce emissions, and support biodiversity protection. Mellin is the founder of Art into Acres, a non-profit organization which connects artists and arts institutions with large-scale land conservation projects focused on climate, Indigenous peoples, and beta-diversity. Additionally, Mellin co-founded Conserve.org, the MOCA Environmental Council in Los Angeles, Art and Climate Action, Artists Commit, and Gallery Climate Coalition's  New York chapter.  She was a member of the Whitney Museum's Independent Studio Program and holds a PhD in Visual Culture and Education from New York University.

In this episode of the Art + Climate series on the Tech in the Arts podcast, join AMT Lab's Lead Researcher Hannah Brainard and Social Media and Marketing Manager Ashley Offman in conversation with Molly Braverman, Director of the Broadway Green Alliance. Molly has worked as a Stage Manager on Broadway, national tours, and regionally, having spent three years on the road with the National Tour of Wicked and continuing to serve as a substitute Stage Manager on Wicked and Hamilton. Molly shares how her work at the Broadway Green Alliance has allowed each cast and creative team to be an agent of change in a way that fits their show's needs, how sustainability branches out beyond the environment, and the first step that every organization should take in their sustainability journey.

In this episode of the Art + Climate series on the Tech in the Arts podcast, hear from Sandra Goldmark, an Associate Professor in Theatre at Barnard College and the Senior Assistant Dean for Interdisciplinary Engagement at the Columbia Climate School. A professor, designer, and entrepreneur, Sandra's work focuses on the circular economy and regenerative climate strategy. She is the founder of Fixup, a New York City-based pop-up repair shop, and the co-creator of the Sustainable Production Toolkit for performing arts organizations.    In this conversation with AMT Lab Lead Researcher, Hannah Brainard, Sandra shares how her background in theatrical design has supported her career in “stuff” and offers tips for arts organizations considering reducing their impact.    Additional Links: Sandra Goldmark: https://sandragoldmark.com/ Sustainable Production Toolkit: https://www.sustainableproductiontoolkit.com/  

Can concerts mobilize music fans to climate action? From signing a petition or voting, to participating in a protest - what actions are fans most likely to take when their favorite artists ask them to? Over the last year, Planet Reimagined's Climate Active Fellows, Caleb Johnson and Li-Ya Mar have been tackling these questions through their project “Amplify: How to Build a Fan-Based Climate Movement.”  Planet Reimagined is a nonprofit organization founded by AJR bassist Adam Met and human rights activist Mila Rosenthal, which focuses on translating climate research into meaningful change. In this podcast, Caleb and Li-Ya talk with AMT Lab Lead Researcher Hannah Brainard about their research process, sharing some key findings and next steps.    What's next for Amplify? Planet Reimagined will implement the Amplify recommendations during AJR's 43-city nationwide “The Maybe Man” tour this summer. At arenas across the U.S., they will connect fans with meaningful local action opportunities at each show while REVERB helps to reduce the environmental impact of the tour.  Additional Links: Learn more about the project: Amplify: How to Build a Fan-Based Climate Movement Read the full report.  Watch a CNN segment about the project with co-founder Adam Met.

In the second episode of AMT Lab's Art + Climate podcast series, the conversation continues with Jennifer Torrance, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens' Youth Climate Advocacy Committee (YCAC) Coordinator.    In this episode, she talks about her experience attending the recent United Nations Climate Conference, or COP28, with YCAC leader and University of Pittsburgh senior, Anna Bagwell. Though attending a COP conference may be “like trying to drink from a firehose,” Torrance unpacks what a day might look like - from meeting with your observer constituency group and sitting in on negotiations, to networking and other sessions.. She also shares some of her key takeaways for cultural organizations, including joining a network like the Climate Toolkit for Museums, Gardens, and Zoos presented by Phipps.  For more information about Torrance's work with YCAC and engaging young people in the climate movement, listen to Part One.

Kicking off AMT Lab's Art + Climate series, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens' Jennifer Torrance discusses her work supporting a space for youth climate engagement.   Phipps' Youth Climate Advocacy Committee (YCAC)  resources and empowers Pittsburgh's young people to take action on issues that they care about. Torrance is a science educator and the YCAC Coordinator at Phipps. She holds a bachelor of science in environmental science from Allegheny College. She has been sparking children's passion for the natural world at Phipps since 2016.   In this unique program, young people take on a variety of projects that unite their skills and interest in the climate movement. From a water bottle photojournalism project, to developing curriculum for elementary students, and even an eco-fashion show.    This interview is in two parts. To hear about Torrance's experience attending COP28, accompanied by YCAC youth leader and University of Pittsburgh student Anna Bagwell, look out for part two.  

Get a behind the scenes look at the Art && Code podcast series. In this wrap-up episode, AMT Lab's Podcast Producer Jabrenee Hussie, Social Media and Marketing Coordinator Ashley Offman, and Lead Researcher Hannah Brainard discuss key takeaways from the series. They look back at some of their favorite interview moments, from ethics of artificial intelligence as an artistic tool to the social scene of live-coding.  The Art && Code Series, in partnership with the Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, featured seven artists working in live visual performance, immersive design, and software development. Artists included Zoe Sandoval, Matthew Ragan, Kate Sicchio, Sarah Groff Hennigh-Palermo, Char Stiles, Olivia Jack and David Lublin.  

In the fifth episode of the Art&&Code podcast series AMT Lead Researcher, Hannah Brainard, talks with David Lublin, a video artist, programmer, and performer based in Brooklyn, NY. Lublin is the co-owner of VIDVOX, a software company specializing in tools for real-time video mixing. In this podcast, they discuss the field of video instrumentalism, or ‘VJing,' and how Lublin's unique background as a mathematician and artist helped carve a path for his career. Since first checking out equipment at his university library, the pursuit of advancing his own artistic output has helped Lublin develop tools for fellow artists. Looking ahead, Lublin anticipates myriad opportunities for emerging technology in the field, including enhanced experience and audience connectedness through immersive augmented and virtual reality

Olivia Jack is a programmer and artist who works frequently with open-source software, cartography, live coding, and experimental interfaces. In this episode of the Art && Code Podcast series, Jack talks with AMT Lab Lead Researcher Hannah Brainard about Hydra, a browser-based open source software she developed for live-coding visuals. With a background in computer engineering, Jack was first introduced to the world of live coding in Bogota, Columbia while working primarily as a programmer. Though initially skeptical, she quickly connected with the community and found that watching artists think through the creative process helped shift her approach to software development.   Beyond Hydra, Jack's research interests include algorithmic representations of uncertainty and chaos, peer2peer networking, and live coding as a way to enter into a continuous dialogue or feedback loop between herself and her computer.   

In the third episode of the Art&&Code podcast series AMT Lead Researcher, Hannah Brainard, talks with Char Stiles, a computational artist, educator and programmer based in Brooklyn, NY. Stiles works creatively in the lower levels of graphical computational systems and is currently at the MIT Media Lab's Future Sketches group.   In this podcast, Stiles talks about how her background in painting introduced her to the world of live visuals. While enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University, Stiles picked up gigs as a VJ and has since gone on to perform internationally, including festivals such as Electric Forest, and Mutek Nexus. Additionally, Stiles shared about the importance of working collaboratively in the creative process through groups like Livecode.nyc and Hex House. Stiles dives into her current and recent work with galactic algorithms and extending live-coding visuals into augmented reality spaces.  

For the second episode of AMT Lab's Art && Code series, Social Media and Marketing Coordinator Ashley Offman talks with Sarah Groff Hennigh-Palermo and Dr. Kate Sicchio, two-thirds of the live coding trio known as Codie.  Sarah and Kate discuss how their prior experiences in academia and at tech giants influence the art they create. They also talk of their interdisciplinary approaches to performance, including the integration of coding in live performance, as well as the nuances and differences that exist in the live coding and DIY sound scenes worldwide. Sarah and Kate discuss the performative nature of the live coding scene and how, in this discipline, the code is the show's star. The trio uplifts the beauty and importance of making errors in live coding and the creative process at large, highlighting the potential for innovation and education. 

AMTLab Lead Researcher, Hannah Brainard talks with Zoey Sandoval and Matthew Ragan, the creators of SudoMagic, a design and software development studio, which focuses on immersive experiences. In this podcast, Sandoval and Ragan share how their respective backgrounds in filmmaking and performance have set them up for careers in immersive design. After meeting at a conference for Art & Technology in 2015, the collaborators combined their talents to form the design studio 2020 and work with companies such as Meta, Apple, T-Mobile, and Dell as they reimagined their physical spaces. Sandoval and Ragan discuss TouchDesigner and other software and hardware used to create these experiences. Diving into the creative process, storytelling and participatory design are recurring elements in their work, including recent projects Calaveras (This is Not a Sugar Skull) , and Lumisphere Experience. While artificial intelligence and machine learning have been tools in their artistic practice, Sandvol and Ragan offer predictions and ethical concerns around how these models may be trained and implemented in the future.  

AMT Lead Researcher, Hannah Brainard talks with David Lublin, a video artist, programmer, and performer based in Brooklyn, NY. Lublin is the co-owner of VIDVOX, a software company specializing in tools for real-time video mixing. In this podcast, they discuss the field of video instrumentalism, or ‘VJing,' and how Lublin's unique background as a mathematician and artist helped carve a path for his career. Since first checking out equipment at his university library, the pursuit of advancing his own artistic output has helped Lublin develop tools for fellow artists. Looking ahead, Lublin anticipates myriad opportunities for emerging technology in the field, including enhanced experience and audience connectedness through immersive augmented and virtual reality.    

AMT Lab Chief Editor, Samantha Sonnet, and Garrett Brooks, Creative Director of MAS, discuss all things experiential marketing. With over 10 years in experiential marketing, Garrett has been a part of projects for clients such as YouTube, Google, Facebook, Hulu, Netflix, LinkedIn, Bacardi and Pepsi and has activated executions at cultural touch points like the Super Bowl, CES, and SXSW.

AMT Lab Chief Editor, Samantha Sonnet, and Executive Director, Brett Crawford, discuss the current Google antitrust lawsuit and potential social media alternatives for arts organizations looking to expand their outreach and platform participation. 

In this episode of our Let's Talk podcast, host Natalie Larsen talks with Lauren Miller about the intersection of technology and the digital ecosystem with diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) in the arts for digital making and linguistic representation.

In this episode of our Let's Talk podcast, host Maraika Lumholdt talks with B Crittenden, Manager of Corporate Support at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra about how live streaming changed the arts world during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and how it continues to serve audiences despite the return to in-person programming.

In the latest installment of our Let's Talk podcast series, AMT Lab staff member Samantha Sonnet interviews interdisciplinary scholar and creative, Dorothy Santos. The two discuss the future of AI, identity, tech and culture, tarot reading, and much more. 

In the latest installment of our Let's Talk podcast series, AMT Lab staff member Samantha Sonnet interviews interdisciplinary scholar and creative, Dorothy Santos. The two discuss the future of AI, identity, tech and culture, tarot reading, and much more.

In this podcast interview, AMT Lab staff member Natalie Larsen talks with Jeff Poulin, the founder, and Managing Director of Creative Generation, a values-driven global collective that believes that youth create change. In the first part of our podcast interviews, Jeff talked about what arts advocacy is, and how we can begin to think of ourselves as advocates. In the second part of our podcast interviews, Jeff discussed the intersection of the arts with other issues, and the importance of arts advocacy in the digital age.

In this podcast interview, AMT Lab staff member Natalie Larsen talks with Jeff Poulin, the founder, and Managing Director of Creative Generation, a values-driven global collective that believes that youth create change. In the first part of our podcast interviews, Jeff talked about what arts advocacy is, and how we can begin to think of ourselves as advocates. In the second part of our podcast interviews, Jeff discussed the intersection of the arts with other issues, and the importance of arts advocacy in the digital age.

In the latest installment of our Let's Talk podcast series, AMT Lab contributors Ellena Sakai and Blake Aber are interviewed by host Maraika Lumholdt discuss their research into arts education and its transformative power, as well as the potentials for GIS to enhance connections with art in the museum space.

In this installment of the Let's Talk podcast series, AMT Lab staff Rachel Broughton and Samantha Sonnet discuss innovative user experience (UX) design in museums, as well as digital engagement with museums and where both fields might be headed in the future.

In this month's installment of the Let's Talk podcast series, staff members Natalie Larsen and Maraika Lumholdt discuss some of the biggest and most influential tech scandals we saw occur in 2022, and how they affect the ongoing of arts organizations. They also discuss where we might see policy headed in 2023.

Covering industry news from November 2022, AMT Lab staff members Natalie Larsen and Maraika Lumholdt discuss recent failures in big tech, crypto, and the ticketing industry, as well as how AI continues to change the arts. 

In the latest installment of the Let's Talk Podcast Interview series, AMT Lab staff member Natalie Larsen interviews a group of Carnegie Mellon University students & faculty who worked conjointly on a week-long “Jam"' at the Textiles Lab in order to create a fabric that produces sounds when stretched and manipulated.

In this month's installment of our Let's Talk podcast series, AMT Lab staff Maraika Lumholdt and Natalie Larsen continue discussing the ever-evolving world of technology and privacy policy, especially in the realms of theater and music. The AI Bill of Rights, an essential new blueprint for the future of technology policy, is also examined.

In this podcast interview, AMT Lab staff members Rachel Broughton and Maraika Lumholdt talk with Mikael Owunna, a Nigerian American multi-media artist, filmmaker, and engineer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mikael discusses how technology, as presented in traditional African cosmologies, has influenced his creative practice and shaped his recent works.

In the latest installment of our Let's Talk podcast series, AMTlab staff members Maraika Lumholdt and Natalie Larsen discuss recent news in NFTs and policies, and their implications for the future. They also discuss AI as an artistic collaborator and the ethical, moral, and legal issues that go along with it.

In this installment of Let's Talk, Chief Editor of Research Liz Forrey and Summer Social Media and Marketing Manager Maraika Lumholdt talk about what has been happening at the intersection of art and tech thus far in August. The conversation covers recent uses and developments with Dall-E and Crayion, how NFTs and apps like TikTiok are becoming relevant in the music industry, and how data privacy issues are already playing a big role in legal battles related to abortion in the United States.   The following articles are listed in order of discussion: HitPiece Officially Launches Music Artist NFT Platform and Announces First-of-its-Kind Partnership with Audible Magic to Ensure Authentic Experiences Ticketmaster and TikTok team up to sell tickets on your FYP Surreal or too real? Breathtaking AI tool DALL-E takes its images to a bigger stage This Is the Data Facebook Gave Police to Prosecute a Teenager for Abortion

In this episode, Liz and Summer Social Media Manager Maraika Lumholdt speak with Jacob Gursky, privacy engineering student at Carnegie Mellon University, about Ghostbots, Griefbots, and their role in the Arts. The conversation covers the complexity of these digital creations, how they are used in different settings, and their morality.

This is the second in a two-part conversation series with Andrew Plumley, the current Head of Equity and Impact for Arabella Advisors, and former Senior Director of Equity and Culture at the American Alliance of Museums, where he oversaw both AAM's internal DEAI work, as well as the Facing Change initiative, advancing museum board diversity and inclusion. In this episode, Victoria and Andrew discuss the four “Is” of oppression and how to counteract them, what decolonization efforts look like in the museum space given the history of stolen artifacts, and the top three changes Andrew suggests for arts organizations working toward implementing DEAI practices.

This is the first in a two-part conversation series with Andrew Plumley, the current Head of Equity and Impact for Arabella Advisors, and former Senior Director of Equity and Culture at the American Alliance of Museums, where he oversaw both AAM's internal DEAI work, as well as the Facing Change initiative, advancing museum board diversity and inclusion. In this episode, Victoria and Andrew discuss the biggest changes you've seen museums make in response to the socio-political reckoning of 2020, how to increase diversity in museum board leadership, and how arts organizations take a more active role in overcoming the discomfort Americans are often conditioned to feel when discussing the issue of race.

In this episode, Victoria Sprowls interviews Rachel Hite, the Advancement Officer at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh and Liz McFarlin-Marciak, the Director of Major and Planned Giving at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Conversations touch on the pros and cons of virtual benefits, the case they both make for giving at their non-profits, and the most helpful technologies for planned giving - including some advice about crypto-giving.

In this episode, Victoria Sprowls interviews David Nutt, who has worked at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestra before landing in his current position as the Director of Sales and Advertising at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Conversations touch on the effect of the pandemic on ticket sales and marketing for operas and symphonies, utilizing social media as a marketing tool, and the impact the community the organization is located in has on the organization.

In this episode, Victoria Sprowls interviews Theo George, a Masters of Arts Management alumni here at Carnegie Mellon, and the current Director of Marketing and Communications at SNF Parkway Theater, which is also the home to the Maryland Film Festival. Conversations touch on the challenges of running an independent movie theater, how to instill a sense of community into the movie-going experience, and what the future of movie-going might look like given day-and-date movie releases on streaming services.