COSA Connectors is a new series of videos premiering at Ars Electronica Festival 2020 exploring and showcasing the many free/Libre open source tools (FLOSS) used by artists and other creatives. Each 2-3 minute video takes a quick look at a tool, sharing what it can do and talking about who might find it useful. The particular tools are curated and toured by an energetic group of people (Connectors) working in the digital field and will span many different practices.
The concept
COSA Connectors is a new series of videos exploring and showcasing the many free/Libre open source tools (FLOSS) used by artists and other creatives. Each 2-3 minute video takes a quick look at a tool, sharing what it can do and talking about who might find it useful. The particular tools are curated and toured by an energetic group of people (Connectors) working in the digital field and will span many different practices. The goal is to help people find often-underutilized tools that give anyone with a computer and the internet new ways to express themselves at no cost. While many such tools are created, most are never promoted or shared beyond small groups, so these “commercials” will help build new communities around them. With Connectors coming from multiple age groups, genders, sexual identities, and racial backgrounds, we will forefront that these tools are for everyone. The videos will reside in several online spaces including YouTube where they are tagged and link to the tool and any associated information. Ars Electronica Festival will be the premiere of COSA Connectors, with a daily rollout of the videos grouped into topical playlists and culminating in a livestream conversation with the Connectors discussing their favorite tools and taking Live Chat questions about the series as well as suggestions for future videos.
Timetable
Program
COSA Connector Tour Part 1
Everest Pipkin (US)
Engage with the first of three playlists from our COSA Connectors, exploring open-source tools for artists. We have curated useful selections from across the internet of free software to help you express your creative side. The guided tours will focus on what the tool can do, what kinds of projects you might use it for, and quick tips and tricks for getting started.
COSA Connector Tour Part 2
Aren Davey (US)
Engage with the second of three playlists from our COSA Connectors, exploring open-source tools for artists. We have curated useful selections from across the internet of free software to help you express your creative side. The guided tours will focus on what the tool can do, what kinds of projects you might use it for, and quick tips and tricks for getting started.
COSA Connector Tour Part 3
shawné michaelain holloway (US)
Engage with the third of three playlists from our COSA Connectors, exploring open-source tools for artists. We have curated useful selections from across the internet of free software to help you express your creative side. The guided tours will focus on what the tool can do, what kinds of projects you might use it for, and quick tips and tricks for getting started.
COSA Connectors Live
Aren Davey, Everest Pipkin, shawné michaelain holloway
The three COSA Connectors will come together in a Livestream to talk about creative open-source software tools. They will discuss the series so far, talk about tools they would like to see created, and how they use the tools for their personal work. We will take questions from the viewers via the live-chat, including questions about using other tools and suggestions for future episodes.
Project Credits / Acknowledgements
The Clinic for Open Source Arts is funded in part by the Knight Foundation and supported by the Emergent Digital Practices Program and the Madden Center at the University of Denver.
COSA Connectors are Aren Davey, Everest Pipkin and shawné michaelain holloway.
Production by Chris Coleman
