Creative Commons’ Open Culture Remix Art Contest #CCSharesCulture is open until 30 April 2022. So there’s still plenty of time to remix existing art and turn it into something fresh and exciting under the theme “Love Culture? Share Culture!”

In the run up to the submission deadline, we are introducing our panel of experts, who will judge the entries based on their conformity with the theme, expression of the theme, originality, creativity, quality, artistic expression, personal expression, visual appeal, and overall impact. Get to know one of our six judges, Tyler Green, in this Q&A blog post. 

Who are you? 

I am an author and historian whose work examines the ways in which artists and their work have engaged with and impacted national histories. My books include the California Book Award-winning “Carleton Watkins: Making the West American” (2018, University of California Press), and “Emerson’s ‘Nature’ and the Artists” (2021, Prestel). I am also the producer and host of The Modern Art Notes Podcast, the leading English-language audio program about art.

What does “better sharing” of culture mean to you?

Better sharing means using our shared cultural heritage to open up opportunities for new knowledge. In my case, that comes through research. The “better sharing” transforms, allows the locally held and narrowly seen to the global. I work on art; simply seeing art, even in JPEG form, is necessary for knowledge to be built from it.

How can open access to cultural heritage stimulate creativity?

I’m a creativity-skeptic — I believe less in magic light bulbs going off than I do in the results from research and study. But research and study is most possible when the most material is available most widely. 

What advice would you give to folks who are in two minds about entering CC’s Open Culture Remix Art Contest?

Use it as an opportunity to stretch your eyes. Use it as an opportunity to access and look at material that isn’t usually within your orbit. 

What sparked your passion for “open” culture?

I work on the space between art and national histories. The most common material for the consideration of such is books, and lots and lots and lots of books are available under open access guidelines. In the US especially, groups such as the Internet Archive, libraries and other repositories have done a good job making copyright-expired works available digitally to all. But in art and art history, the situation is much, much more hit-and-miss, especially outside the US. Many American leadership institutions have embraced open access, but many of our largest art museums are laggards. My work, especially my last book, has been enormously enabled by open content.

What excites you about being a judge for CC’s Open Culture Remix Art Contest?

Learning from those who participate!!

CONTEST NOW CLOSED. Thank you so much to everyone who participated. We will announce the shortlisted entries and winners in May 2022.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the contest, please contact us at communications@creativecommons.org.