ArtBytes 3 Hackathon Marries Technology and Creativity

Baltimore— Technologists, innovators, scholars and artists will coalesce into teams on the Sculpture Court of the Walters Art Museum at ArtBytes 3, Friday, February 6–Sunday, February 8, 2015. Participants will collaborate to design and build technologies that enhance the museum experience for visitors and winners will be announced on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Graham Auditorium. Winners will be announced on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Graham Auditorium. Five thousand dollars in prize money will be awarded.

“We offer access to the information and images about our collection free to the public and are always looking for opportunities to share that data in compelling new ways,” said Jim Maza, chief technology officer at the Walters. “New this year, the museum will award prizes to projects that serve key audiences in categories including scholars, students and teachers, museum visitors and Internet users.”

ArtBytes participants can use museum’s galleries for inspiration throughout the weekend while museum staff and partners from Wikimedia DC, Cheshire Software Solutions, and Alchemy Learning Project will be on hand to provide support for the projects. Leaders of the technology and innovation communities will judge which teams were most successful.

Confirmed judges are Samuel Hoi, president, Maryland Institute College of Art; Jeannie Howe, executive director, Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance; David McKibbin, alchemist/programmer /inventor, Firaxis Games; Sheri Parks, associate professor in American Studies at the University of Maryland and regular contributor to WYPR “Midday”; Murray Taylor, president, Digital Steamworks.

Important technologies that are now in regular use at the museum had their start at previous years’ ArtBytes events. These include the Application Program Interface, or API, that allows programmers to access data about the museum’s collection and the iPhone game, Art Lies. Both were initiated as hackathon projects and then more fully produced in partnership with the Walters.

The Abell Foundation has generously donated $5,000 for cash prizes.

To register, visit the website.  Participants can also suggest ideas and vote on their favorite suggestions.

Schedule of Events

Friday, February 6, 6-9 p.m., Sculpture Court, kickoff event invites participants to  propose programs and applications inspired by art to enhance the museum experience. Beer, wine and cheese will be served. Museum galleries will be open until 9 p.m.

Saturday, February 7,10 a.m.-12 a.m., Sculpture Court, participants collaborate to produce their technologies. The museum’s galleries will be available for participants to view until 5 p.m.

Sunday, February 8, 2-4 p.m., Graham Auditorium, participants will present their creations and judges will announce which teams were most successful.

About the Walters Museum

The Walters Art Museum is located in downtown Baltimore’s historic Mount Vernon Cultural District at North Charles and Centre Streets. At the time of his death in 1931, museum founder Henry Walters left his entire collection of art – including a legendary collection of illuminated medieval manuscripts that is a national treasure – to the city of Baltimore. Its permanent collection includes ancient art, medieval art and manuscripts, decorative objects, Asian art and Old Master and 19^th century paintings. The Museum Store, located next to Café Q, offers distinctive gifts, jewelry and books based on the Museum’s collections. Wyndham Baltimore Peabody Court is the official hotel of the Walters Art Museum.

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