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What do you think of when you hear the words “local arts and culture”? If you’re like most people, your mind probably wanders to thoughts of theater productions, art galleries, spoken-word venues, and concerts. And while those are all a big part of the local arts and culture scene, there’s one new aspect that can get overlooked: NFTs. That’s right, I’m talking about things like cryptos and tokens. Believe it or not, they can have a major impact on local arts and culture. In this article, I’ll explore how NFTs can change the landscape for local artists and cultural organizations. 

Hartford, Connecticut is a city with a rich history and culture. The city is home to many artists and advocates who are working tirelessly to bring art and advocacy to the forefront of our community daily. With their help, Hartford for decades has been able to make itself a cultural hub in the Northeast and the world. 

But, did you know that Hartford artists are pioneers in NFTs or non-fungible tokens economy? What are NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens)? These tokens serve as digital representations of unique objects that could be anything from paintings to sculptures to pieces of clothing. NFTs offer consumers a way to own something that is truly unique and personal — something they can take home with them. NFTs can be a great way to get your artwork out there and get it seen globally. NFTs can also be a way to promote your business, share experiences, and raise funds for social causes. But you said that the NFT scene in the capital city of Hartford, Connecticut is on and poppin’ though? Hartford, CT native Ellis Echevarria (El Rock) minted his genesis NFT Collection in March on NFT marketplace Foundation. Hartford, CT native Ellis Echevarria (El Rock) mints his genesis NFT Collection titled, “Vector Dreams” on Foundation early in 2022. Although NFTs exploded in popularity early in 2021 it was a Hartford native who tokenized the first NFT song on the Ethereum Blockchain. In October 2019 Hartford, CT musical artist MC (Mike-Charles Nahounou) says he felt “lonely” since there were no other locals discussing Blockchain and NFTs until December 2021 when Black Tech Futures Media invited him to interview and discuss his NFT experience on their “Weekly Chats” NFT podcast. The first tokenized song, “On the Block Getting Change (Blockchain Rules)” by musical artist MC invites listeners on a journey into digital tokens. MC is best known for being discovered by Jagged Edge on one of their early Hartford tours where the young MC first launched his falsetto to the masses in collaboration with his musical act Paperboy. Since December 2021 new NFT pioneers including such Hartford creators as Balam Soto, El Rock (Ellis Echevarria), Lindaluz Carrillo, Dre B Paintin, Anne:Gogh, Khamani Harrison of The Key Bookstore, and Chris-Ann Miller Owner of The Ital Juicery Company have all minted non-fungible tokens or NFTs on various NFT marketplaces in the past year. Marketplaces, where Hartford creators minted genesis NFT items or collections, ranging from the popular to the exclusive. Popular platforms include OpenSea and Rarible where Balam, Anne:Gogh, Lindaluz, Chris-Ann, Khamani’s, and Dre’s NFTs can be found. Exclusive marketplace Foundation, which requires an invitation for artists to mint their digital works is where you will find El Rock or Ellis Echevarria’s digital collection. Finally, Makersplace is where you can find MC’s collections of musical art under his arts for education platform “The Antiquity Project.” Makersplace no longer accepts new artists. Of the projects described above, MC’s “The Antiquity Project” is designed to donate 70% of all profits to help teach financial literacy to underprivileged youth seeking careers in Arts & Entertainment. For decades, the arts have been a cornerstone of culture, especially in the Hartford and Greater Hartford communities. Yet, in the last decade, there has been a shift in how people consume and appreciate art. We are now living in an era where people are increasingly drawn to experiences that they can bring home with them and those having greater utility. Khamani Harrison, Owner of The Key Bookstore minted her Meta Key Bookstore membership card to promote her independent bookstore in the NFT space. Hartford, CT independent bookstore, The Key Bookstore minted The Meta Key membership on Open Sea What if there was a way to use NFTs for the public good as The Antiquity Project illustrates? Instead of buying and selling digital assets, we could put our tokens to work for a good cause or a social good. NFTs are a relatively new concept in the fundraising and activism space. They are digital tokens that represent a physical object. They can be exchanged for the object or redeemed for a service. And while this may seem like a new concept, it’s actually something that is already being done. Let’s take a look at how NFTs are used for social change, fundraising, and some of the benefits this approach offers. NFTs can be used for anything from art exhibitions, to even guided tours around the city engaging tourists in local history and culture. See: TravelMyth NFTs NFTs can be used as souvenirs at events or as collectibles for people who love your work to increase support for local groups and brands. See: Souvenir NFT or crypto donations are a new way to use digital artwork to fundraise for local causes and non-profit organizations: See: Boss Beauties. Startups can use NFTs for crowdfunding: See MetaKnyts on StartEngine. So what’s next? The Metaverse is the limit with NFTs and we are just starting to scratch the surface of what is possible. We would love to see more local artists create NFT art and music, especially those projects that focus on social good. The team at Black Tech Futures Media is excited to see what new and innovative ways artists will use NFTs to showcase their talent. We would be happy to help promote your work and connect you with local artists and advocates who can help bring your vision to life. Let’s continue working together to help make Hartford a vibrant and thriving arts community! Black Tech Futures Media is a social media influencer and digital marketing agency focused on connecting creators to economic opportunities on the Blockchain. To learn more about us check out our weekly NFT podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BlackTechFuturesMedia/