Summary

This proposal is a signaling mechanism to confirm that we (GEN.ART DAO) will support and uphold the following principles:

Core Offering

GEN.ART is a generative art platform and community. We enable artists, whether world-renowned or up-and-coming, to release art, immutably, using blockchain technology. We are committed to building relationships, telling the stories of the artists behind the works, and bridging the traditional art world with the digital.

Mission

To curate diverse and meaningful generative art while leading the blockchain-based creative renaissance.

Vision

To be one of the world’s premier art platforms.

Values

• Accountability - We hold one another accountable for the subsequent values in our words, commitments, and actions.
• Inclusion - We foster an inclusive environment in which sharing ideas on creation, curation, and appreciation moves the generative art space forward.
• Innovation - We push the boundaries of what is possible.
• Stewardship - We maintain relationships beyond the mint process and endeavor to be stewards for each artist’s journey thereafter.
• Transparency - We uphold transparency in our decision-making, objectives, and processes.

Motivation

In our recent discussions to formalize GEN.ART DAO, the conversations quickly trended toward a few simple, yet important questions:

• Why are we here?
• What do we want to achieve?
• What are the things we most deeply appreciate about GEN.ART?

We found that the answers to these questions were highly aligned with the founding principles of GEN.ART that were established by Notion and Chris. These principles can be found in Notion's Welcome to GEN.ART blog post as well as his recent Scaling GEN.ART piece. With a few minor changes and additions, we have decided to adopt these principles as our own.

Specification

Given the philosophical-leaning nature of this topic, this vote does not represent an eternal binding to these principles - with time, proper discourse, and thoughtfulness they can evolve. But for the foreseeable future, we intend for these principles to be our guiding light. Further, this vote does not represent an attempt to divide community members over a set of values or hinder progress; it intends to find a place of agreement that enables us to move forward in unity. Thus, a rejection of this proposal does not carry the full power that it might carry in a more controversial, technical, or action-oriented proposal. Instead, it would serve only as a signal that we have not yet found common ground and that further discussion is necessary.
Because the community discussions that led to the final version of these principles (as expressed above) took place in the GEN.ART Discord with many calls for input and opportunities for discourse over the past month, we expect that they will be adopted without issue. Therefore, any vote on this issue will also signify agreement to the following terms:

• For - I support GEN.ART DAO's core offering, mission, vision, and values as expressed in the description above. I also agree to uphold them to the best of my ability in my actions and relations within the DAO.

• Against - I do NOT support GEN.ART DAO's core offering, mission, vision, and/or values as expressed in the description above. Additionally, I will express my dissent in the GEN.ART Discord server in hopes of finding a solution that is palatable for all.

• Abstain - A catch-all option for views including but not limited to 1) I do not feel strongly enough about GEN.ART DAO's principles to vote for or against them, 2) I reject GEN.ART DAO's principles as expressed above but do not feel strongly enough to collaborate with the community to find a solution that I would find suitable, 3) Other situations that stem from a lack of opinion on these principles.

In summary, a winning “For” vote will signal the adoption of the aforementioned core offering, mission, vision, and values as the founding principles of GEN.ART DAO. A winning "Against" vote will not forever prevent the confirmation of the above values; it will only delay the final vote, which (if necessary) will take place once a new equilibrium has been reached. Absent an expression of dissenting opinions via Discord, these principles will be adopted, nonetheless.
Ultimately, the purpose of this vote is not to divide our community over our founding principles; rather, it is to take one step forward - whether confirming the principles or sparking another round of discussion and drafting - in the formalization of GEN.ART DAO.