# About
## what **Experimentation is at the heart of contemporary cultural institutions and museums like HEK (House of Electronic Arts).** *Friends of HEK* is a long-term experiment in shared responsibility and participation. Drawing inspiration from DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) models, we explore what happens when a cultural institution opens up its structure to community input — with all the learning curves, shifts, and small steps that come with it. Originally launched as a blockchain-based membership, the project has since moved off-chain to ensure broader access. We’re still guided by the core principles of shared governance, but do things in our own way — shaped by those who take part. ## benefits ### Community-curated Exhibitions Take part in shaping HEK’s browser-based exhibition space, [virtual.hek.ch](https://virtual.hek.ch). Twice a year, members curate and contribute to new online shows — from concept to selection. ### Project Proposals & Voting Got an idea? Members can propose and review community projects. Selected proposals can be realized with support from the Friends of HEK treasury. ### Workshops & Exchange Friends of HEK includes exclusive access to workshops, collaborative experiments, and opportunities for knowledge sharing — both online and on-site. ### Free Museum Entry Your membership includes free entry to all exhibitions and events at HEK, as well as to Kunsthaus Baselland next door. ### Annual Gathering Each year, we invite members to a hybrid summer gathering — a chance to meet the HEK team, share ideas, and connect. You can join on-site or online. ## why friends of hek? Now entering its third season, *Friends of HEK* is a growing experiment in community-driven cultural work. From the beginning, the project has asked what happens when a museum doesn’t just speak to its audience — but invites it to think along, take part, and shape what’s next. Rooted in the spirit of decentralization, the first two seasons explored new tools for collective decision-making, including a token-based membership model on the blockchain. While this early approach offered valuable insights, it also brought limitations: access, complexity, and market instability. To make participation more inclusive, *Friends of HEK* has since moved off-chain — but the focus on shared responsibility and openness remains. Participation happens primarily on a dedicated **Discord server**, where members exchange ideas, vote on proposals, and co-develop activities. The structure continues to evolve through the people who join it. Members curate exhibitions, initiate projects, host workshops, and imagine new forms of working together — both online and onsite. We still draw from DAO principles, but adapt them freely. If anything, *Friends of HEK* might be better described as a **DOW – a Decentralized Organization Worldwide**: flexible, collective, and always in progress. ## Looking back: Friends of HEK 2023-2024 Over its first two seasons, *Friends of HEK* has tested different ways of sharing authorship within a cultural institution — through open calls, community curation, and ongoing conversation. In **2023**, members voted on the first *Face of the Token*, selecting artist **Auriea Harvey** to create two artworks. One of these became the visual identity for the season. Members also curated a solo show on [virtual.hek.ch](https://virtual.hek.ch), featuring the work of **Maya Man**, and took part in online talks and tours with artists including **Jonas Lund**, **Kyle McDonald**, and **Annet Dekker**. The **2024** season introduced a new wave of activities. The *Face of the Token* was awarded to **Sasha Stiles**, whose work was also featured in the community-curated online exhibition ***Material Poetry***, created in collaboration with **Synthesis Gallery**. Alongside the exhibition, a series of live performances took place on HEK’s virtual platform. The season also included the first open call for open projects, resulting in the selection of a project proposal by **Hannah Chabbani** and **Marc Bredemeier.** They are currently developing a *Guide to DAOs*, to be launched during the **Kunsttage 2025** at HEK. These activities reflect the evolving nature of the project — not as a fixed program, but as a shared space shaped by those who participate.