Principles

Decentralized Undead Organization

The DAK was the attempt to create a functioning decentralized autonomous art
association. The organization is now largely defunct. You can find a
reflection on the brief history of the project and about some of its
conceptual and practical problems here:
➚

Below you find the unaltered DAK Principles written in 2018.

***

Introduction

The Decentralized Autonomous Kunstverein (DAK) is an art association inspired
by developments in blockchain technology and the unique tradition of
non-profit art associations in Europe. Being a Decentralized Autonomous
Organization (DAO),
the DAK is a net-based organization that is directed and funded by its members
on a voluntary basis, without a permanent space or home jurisdiction,
initiating projects however and wherever on the globe its members decide.

The organization’s mission is to promote experimental approaches to creating
and curating contemporary art, exploring the potential of decentralized
collective work within the context of contemporary art and technology. To
fulfill this purpose, the members of the DAK will collectively work to
finance and curate exhibitions, screenings, performances and related
programming.

Guiding Principles

The DAK will operate on opaquely transparent communication, decision making
and execution of all operations in a direct democratic structure without any
central judicature, geographically oriented or otherwise. In doing so, the
DAK will not rely on the laws of any state or central authority, nor recognize
itself as a part of any jurisdiction beyond its diffused membership.

Juridical systems that rule over a particular locale where physical
exhibitions or other events take place will be considered temporary and
contextual to that specific event and cannot apply to the totality of the
organization itself.

In keeping with these values, the DAK does not seek to license or copyright
any content produced by or for the organization and supports fair use, open
source values and the right to artistic appropriation.

Internally, the

DAK bylaws

will function as focal point for behavior, rather than relying on enforcement
through coercion or policing.

A reputation token will secure individual member voting rights through the
contribution of work in addition to, or in lieu of, monetary support. The DAK
will operate on the values of individual sovereignty, decentralized
collective governance and non-coercion, though it remains open to diverse
economic, political and ideological positions within membership and with
potential partner organizations and institutions.

Implementation

The DAK will utilize Project Aragon’s DAO building set to create a
decentralized cooperative entity that is accessible globally on the
Ethereum network.

All voting on primary operations, such as project proposals, financial
operations and proposals to change the bylaws, will be conducted as an open,
transparent and auditable on-chain transaction.

Further, the organization will make use of a variety of other platforms to
conduct its operations, including
Discord for internal communication,

GitBook

for bylaw amendments and

Are.na

for proposal documents and collective research. Key concerns will be
addressed through collective discourse and voting.