Arsht Center launches Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to engage with patrons in new ways

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Suzette Espinosa Fuentes    Gino R. Campodónico
786-468-2221                786-468-2228
sespinosa@arshtcenter.org   gcampodonico@arshtcenter.org

           Arsht Center launches Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to
                    engage with patrons in new ways

   Center partners with local young artists to create unique digital collectibles
         as a surprise gift for all Lasting Impressions guests along with a
                       special auction open to the public

MIAMI — June 16, 2021 — Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) offer a new opportunity to connect
the visual and performing arts world in innovative ways. The Adrienne Arsht Center for the
Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County has partnered with three recent graduates of
New World School of the Arts’ BFA program to create NFTs of unique digital collectibles
as part of Lasting Impressions, a world premiere 3D visual art experience ending its
critically-acclaimed run at the Arsht Center this week. This is one of the first times a
performing arts venue will deliver NFTs as a collectible, enabled in part by the True Tickets
secure digital ticketing service and NFT consultant Kristin Darrow.

The three talented young Miami artists who work primarily on digital mediums (selected
by Arsht Center partner and gallerist Fred Snitzer) – Ruth Burotte, Alian Martinez Rives,
John Medina – each created three pieces of digital artwork that will be minted into NFTs.
Each artist created one gold NFT, which will be auctioned off to the general public this
summer, with the proceeds of the initial sale going to the artists. One hundred silver NFTs
will be distributed to Lasting Impressions guests and the public via a lottery (complete
rules, including free entry are here).

All Lasting Impressions ticket purchasers who attend the exhibition will have the
opportunity to claim a complimentary bronze tier digital artwork. Silver and bronze NFTs
will be distributed at the end of July. A share of all sales of the gold, silver, and bronze
NFTs on secondary exchanges will be split among the artists, the Arsht Center, New World
School of the Arts, and invested in carbon offsets.

NFTs are a record of a unique digital item stored on a blockchain protocol. "Non-Fungible
" means one of a kind - it can't be replaced by something identical. Artists have begun

using NFTs as a creative medium whereby they can distribute art online and buyers can
securely own the digital art. Since the NFT is stored on a blockchain, that means anybody
can trace its ownership. Artists can earn royalties through subsequent sales and collectors
can feel comforted knowing their digital art comes with a verifiable record of
provenance.

“Minting these NFTs for the Arsht Center demonstrates the flexibility our service enables
around client-patron engagement and digital content strategy,” said Matt Zarracina,
CEO of True Tickets. “Decoupling the ticket from a token provides more flexibility for live
event hosts to creatively engage patrons, as they are better able to decide when in the
patron journey, they want a patron to own an experience while maintaining control of
the ticket as a revocable license. The Arsht Center and the broader artistic community in
Miami are forging a smart path to a connected community in a digital world.”

The Arsht Center and True Tickets are making every effort to ensure these NFTs are
created in an environmentally responsible way. Only the three gold NFTs will be minted
on the Proof-of-Work protocol. The silver and bronze tier NFTs will be minted on a Proof-
of-Stake protocol, which consumes a fraction of the energy of Proof-of-Work. True Tickets
will purchase carbon credits to offset the carbon footprint of minting the NFTs once final
totals are known prior to NFT distribution.

             Image of Lasting Impressions         Image of Monet Bronze NFT by
              Gold NFT by John Medina                     Ruth Burrote

           Image of Georges Seurat Silver         Image of Monet Bronze NFT by
               NFT by John Medina                         Ruth Burrote

                    To download the photos/videos above, click here.

                         @ArshtCenter                  #ArshtCenter

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the
public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the
Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-
Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community
Redevelopment Agency, as well as the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural
Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives
generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations.

###

About the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
Set in the heart of downtown Miami, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-
Dade County is committed to welcoming and connecting ALL people to the arts, to the Arsht
Center and to each other. Our stages are alive year-round with artists from around the world,
innovative programming from our resident companies and local arts partners, free community
events that reflect Miami’s unique identity and arts education experiences for thousands of Miami
children each year.

Since opening in 2006, the Arsht Center, a 501C3 non-profit organization, has been recognized as
a catalyst for billions of dollars in new development in the downtown area, a leader in
programming that mirrors South Florida’s diversity, a host venue for historic events and Miami’s hub
for arts education.

Each year, we serve more than 50,000 young learners and offer more than 100 culturally diverse
and inclusive education programs — many enhanced by the Arsht Center’s relationship with
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, local teaching artists and Miami-based arts organizations.

The Arsht Center is also a home stage for three resident companies — Florida Grand Opera, Miami
City Ballet and New World Symphony — and a launch pad for local artists to make their mark on
the international stage. Our 300+ events each year include the Center’s Signature Series of
classical, jazz, Broadway, local theater and much more. We present a robust series of touring
Broadway musicals direct from New York, the largest jazz series in South Florida, a major annual
Flamenco Festival and an award-winning Miami-based theater program. In addition, our Family
Fest, Free Gospel Sundays, CommuniTea LGBTQ+ celebration and Heritage Fest are among
dozens of free events that bring together people from all corners of our community. For more
information, visit arshtcenter.org.

About True Tickets
True Tickets is a secure contactless digital ticketing service that can be tailored to a venue’s
specific needs. Whether through its IBM blockchain-enabled service built with secondary market
distribution in mind or its single-channel delivery service, True Tickets’ business-to-business solution
easily integrates with existing ticketing platforms without replacing existing infrastructure. The True
Tickets service empowers venues across arts, entertainment, and more to better govern how
mobile tickets are transacted, reclaiming control of their tickets from the secondary market so
they can more effectively manage their patrons’ experience. For additional information, please
please visit True-Tickets.com or follow True Tickets on Twitter or LinkedIn.

About Kristin Darrow, Consultant
Kristin Darrow is one of the leading voices in technology innovation for the arts and culture space
having served as a founding executive and overseeing 15 years of product innovation for the

Tessitura Network. She is a passionate advocate for the use of emerging technology to deepen
connection between artist and audience. Her consultancy is focused on helping organizations
implement the technologies today that will shape the web in the decades to come. She can be
reached on Twitter or LinkedIn.

ABOUT NEW WORLD SCHOOL OF THE ARTS – VISUAL ARTS DIVISION
Aspiring artists in the NWSA Visual Arts division have the opportunity to join other exceptionally
talented students as they engage in the pursuit of their artistic career in the visual, graphic or
electronic arts. Trained by nationally renowned practicing artists, students at New World School of
the Arts are encouraged to develop a personal, artistic, and aesthetic vision while mastering their
technical skills in traditional and new media. Students are allowed to explore new paths while at
the same time being exposed to the work of both classical and contemporary masters. Through
disciplined training in traditional and new media, students develop new skills and refine others
while gaining invaluable understanding of the roles of art and design in society. Areas of
concentration include Art & Technology, Drawing, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, and
Sculpture. Information about the NWSA Visual Arts division at (305) 237-3620 or here.