AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

Tech Museum of Innovation Announces Cash Prizes For Virtual Exhibit
Designs

SAN JOSE, CA.- The Tech Museum of Innovation (The Tech), one of the
nation's premier science and technology museums, recently announced
the convergence of technology and art in the virtual world with the
launch of The Tech in Second Life®. The Tech has built a replica of
its San Jose , Calif. facility in Second Life, which has been left
empty to provide space for the development of new, virtual exhibits
and educational programming through an exhibit design competition
hosted by The Tech Museum.

Today The Tech is announcing up to fourteen cash prizes for the best
exhibit designs created through www.thetechvirtual.org, the online
collaboration platform created by The Tech to facilitate the creation
of exhibits for its Second Life museum. Award winning exhibits will
be selected by The Tech and a jury of international curators, exhibit
designers, scientists and experts.

The first category will be for exhibits selected to be physically
installed at The Tech Museum on time for the ZER01 Festival. Each
winning exhibit will receive a $5,000 prize and up to ten exhibits
may be selected, beginning in February 2008.

The second category, with additional prizes to be awarded by the
judges, consists of special awards in the following categories: Most
Innovative Virtual Project, Best Design Project in Second Life, Best
Collaborative Teamwork, and Most Active Virtual Participation.

Winners will be invited to San Jose , California to attend the
opening reception. All prizes will be awarded in conjunction with the
ZER01 Festival, June 4-8, 2008.

To be eligible for prizes, exhibits must be appropriate for the
current theme of Art, Film & Music. Staff of The Tech Museum of
Innovation will not be eligible for cash awards.

The virtual Tech can be found by searching for "The Tech" island from
within Second Life (http://secondlife.com). Exhibit contributors and
designers also have the opportunity to team up with other experts who
share similar interests and complementary skills via the online
collaboration platform found at www.thetechvirtual.org. This platform
enables participants to find and work with others, access tools,
participate in forums and view guidelines and tutorials.

This was posted on the Art4Develoment Yahoo! Groups listserv.