NOUNS x HOPE Austin Art Park
Proposal votes
Activity
We need more nounish spaces led and stewarded (in the longterm) by nounish individuals like Brennan ♡
voting for to show support/confidence in Brennan but feel that more clarity and justifcation may be needed for such a large ask that is trying to come in and salvage a project that has already delayed/mis-used funds.
If they failed on initial project management and DD, I am less confident on overall success of the project and subsequent value/success of Event activations over time, ect
For: 3 | Against: 2 | Abstain: 2
+for — @symbiotech
+against I agree with @wylin vwr. — @bixbite
+against love it in concept +1 ccarella think we risk doing bad by trying to do good. the legal structure for the park is confusing, not clear if the DAO’s money is going to a 501c3 or a for-profit. the tax history of the 501c3 raises come concerns a multi-sig in the middle puts the proposers at risk as well — @wylin
+abstain Cons arber fork not imminent. Microfunding underexplored. Wylin(check his feedback in nouncil discord thread!), ccarrella, bix Pros 🔥 🍿 brennish duckish nounish — @w-g
+abstain agree. would prefer many small bets vs. huge swings. unconvinced most huge swings have worked so far. brennen = nounish and not looking to block w/ an against — @indexcard.eth
+for — @pip
+for committed project with a chance to move the needle by becoming a premier attraction in an attractive area — @jrboots.eth
via @zeroweight
A very big ask to become a 'featured brand and partner'. I feel like there's too many uncertainties and variables when it comes to "how nounish" parts of the HOPE Austin Art Park will become. Most/All of the support seems to stem from trust in Brennen, despite existing concerns about the proposal itself.
As for the 'cultural revolution' Nouns could be supporting, I have to agree with mikegood - the vibes are off a bit. It all feels a bit more gentrifying than it does nounish, IMHO.
As much as I want Nouns to be funding bigger & more ambitious proposals, I'm not comfortable voting in favor on this one.
I really want to vote yes... I really do! But I think this is a lot of money for something that doesn't seem to be focused on nouns or that will be able to attract the kind of vis we would want for this amount of money. Potentially there can be a smaller way to collab?
+1 to Seneca
Nouns is uniquely positioned here to create a physical gathering space that wouldn’t exist without its help. That is valuable, as is a space for arts and culture. The budget is large, but unlike other props for physical spaces, alternative funders in this case are less clear. I’m in favor.
Love the proposers continued passion for nouns and drive to find partnerships but something about this park being paused since it was supposed to open in 2019, mixed with Nouns only being brought it after the loss of funds, coupled with the % of funds that would go to this makes me lean no here. It also feels like the park is changing from a really cool underground graffiti culture to more of a gentrified mural culture that the opposite of the original park, fwiw.
This kind of space/event is a perfect fit for Nouns and Brennen is certified nounish since the beginning so easy yes. Longing for a bit more detail regarding the design aspects. Would also be great to ensure that the pop-up store serves as a global showcase for creations from our nounish builders worldwide. Not a deal breaker here as I trust the team's passion and ability to execute. PS: I also need to get in touch with Bob's container, cool stuff!
https://www.lilnouns.wtf/vote/nounsdao/513/votes
FOR 0 VOTES
AGAINST 102 VOTES
0x9e0e9D25a5ED9bc773f91691f0b45599255257B1 | "Reason: Lacks clear ROI and sustainable plan, risking funds on an overly ambitious project with uncertain benefits for the DAO."
0xADa31Add8450CA0422983B9a3103633b78938617 | *"LIL NOUNCIL HAS SPOKEN
Delegate to Lil Nouncil here -> https://lilnouns.wtf/delegate?to=lilnouncil.eth"*
ABSTAINS 0 VOTES
I spent time with Brennen last weekend and his passion for this project and confidence in Andi's ability to execute is palpable. I am very supportive. My noun is delegate to Noun 40 so I hope he votes for :)
HOPE this passes, it would be great for both ATX and for Nouns.
512mace and I met with Brennen yesterday, and he swiftly addressed my concerns. I'm convinced this is a great opp and the exact type of idea we should be funding, esp. when we have nouners on the ground like Brennen that are committed to seeing this through.
nothing to add. the totality of circumstances puts me to a yes. Brennen passion is in that.
Hey, Brennen! Thanks for the proposal. I'm generally a big fan of IRL, especially events, and the gallery seems like an awesome place to spend time and be inspired. However, I'm voting against it mainly because:
❌ with our treasury's current size, I don’t feel it's right to fund anything now with nearly 5% of it. Although HOPE Gallery is incredible and inspiring, this partnership didn't click for me as I had hoped. It felt too much like a naming rights deal. I know that's not entirely the case, but I’m not confident it’ll be much more than that.
But I’d support it if:
✅ the ask was significantly less, and the proposal included more details on events and activities planned for the space, rather than just a list. I think the proposal could also use some improvements in structure and visuals to make the partnership feel more real and nounish.
The Nouncil has spoken.
We discuss all Nouns proposals every week in our Discord https://discord.gg/fdjJpMeV6K. The calls are public and all are welcome!
You can find previous call recordings here: https://nouncil.notion.site/30328df718424f17a623859018497fc2?v=806b5234a2a34b619c3d5028bcd879f0&pvs=4
Quite a few nouncil members were against this proposal, with some concerns around the budget and the multi-sig. The poll closed with a majority against.
FOR - 7 VOTES
peterpandam | "lemme host a smash event here plz 🙏"
profwerder | *"Yes, this is a big ask BUT Austin has become one of the leading intersections of art and tech. This location at first glance may not seem to make sense but thinking about SXSW plus the multiple web3 events hosted there, it actually seems like a perfect fit and can serve as a model for other locations. We already have giant noggles in Japan. I'd love to see some on this side of the world too.
Also consider this -- would you rather see noggles at an amazing art & event center in front of millions of visitors or continue to let the arbers have the treasury?"*
bigshotklim | "While this is a big ask and many valid points on both sides I think that the venue is a perfect place fro high quality Nouns discovery by the very people that we want to attract. This is not a bro fest like Coachella or a big party like burning man this is where many of our future people will be Onboarded. This team has been around the community since the start and I trust for them to make sure that the money is spent in a responsible manner and we get the value back 10X for years to come."
AGAINST - 19 VOTES
imwylin | *"difficult one for me. i like it a lot in concept and the execution so far is beautiful, price tag and what it's being spent on seems a little whacky though.
since HOPE is a 501c3, what's the purpose of the multi-sig? shouldn't the funds be sent directly to their Endaoment address? are the multi-sig signers prepared for the tax implications that putting a multi-sig in the middle might cause? if not by Endaoment, how does HOPE expect to take custody of the funds? too many questions to feel good voting "For".
also, Foundation Stewards have previously stated that physical public goods don't fall within Nouns wheelhouse growing up in a blue collar household and being on a combination of new construction, renovations, and utility-scale solar sites, some of the ratios in the line item don't make sense to me.
$250k for just the roof? $250k can purchase a little parcel of land and build a starter family home in America from scratch. the prop says it's an outdoor gallery made out of shipping containers; where's that much roof going? even after watching the 3D fly-around rendering and the walkthrough with the Director, still not clear where $250k worth of roof is going. can't vote "For" in good conscience when 26% of the budget is unclear.
$125k for HVAC, $135k for electrical + $55k for fixtures, and $90k for plumbing + $30k for fixtures, are we paying for the entire park's utility install?
"nouns has the aspiration to create a society where public goods are abundant b/c that's truly attainable at scale in the online/onchain world and there's a reason our funding budget has been leaning towards media > software > other things."
then again, the DAO facilitated the private purchase of a physical coffee shop so who knows"*
ABSTAINS - 2 VOTES
i share the concerns others have mentioned but ultimately, my vote is a vote of confidence in brennen. make us proud friend.
Like a couple here, I had my reservations on this sponsorship mainly because of operations and conceptually integrating ⌐◨-◨ organically and authentically into the team’s existing mission – this is a heavy, enduring lift that goes way beyond the monetary sponsorship.
Brought it up to Brennen, we had a brief chat about the concerns and it was a delight receiving his confirmation with an extra level of confidence that he will be the person ensuring all the above.
We need more IRL hyperlocal activations, cultivating and fostering local communities, and we have Brennen who wants to start to seed and cultivate ⌐◨-◨ in Austin - making Austin one of the first ⌐◨-◨ key cities.
This is my HELL YES vote to support Brennen on his mission.
Took me a few days to make up my mind but here's what swayed me to vote For:
- Brennens passion and commitment to make this great (w/o Brennen i would not be comfortable making this bet)
- Permanent cultural landmark in a good location (im keen on Nouns building 'libraries')
- Given the contractor misuse of prev raised funds (see Brennens comment) Nouns is actually uniquely positioned to fund this since traditional financing options dried up for HOPE (their other remaining option is to sell land). For me, this is a plus and tells me Nouns is not "just another sponsor" but the entity that makes HOPE come to exist. I believe/hope this also creates a stronger bond between Andi Scull (HOPE management) and Nouns.
But most of all it comes back to Brennen being a force. Nouns needs amazing people to push deep in directions they themselves believe in, and the most impactful thing Nouns can do on a day-to-day is to enable people like Brennen, Goldy, Supriyo, Yitong, Seneca, Drew (to mention a few) to do their thing.
We're 500 props in and I keep thinking to myself, what is going to last? What can we fund that will survive years, decades. How do proposals add to an infinite art project in any way that approaches infinity other than strictly funding onchain dev + art projects? I would like more proposals to have a longer term vision. Everyone should be striving to build something bigger, longer lasting, something that can chug alongside and power the never-ending Nounish machine.
A key path forward is going to be funding less projects and more infrastructure. Fund the foundation, and tie it to Nouns in an authentic way. In this light funding buildings makes a lot of sense. A building isn't infinite, but could easily last long enough to have future impact we can only begin to imagine.
So, ideologically, I'm in. Now the question is what exactly can this specific group deliver, and if the activity in building will be sufficiently Nounish.
If you haven't, watch the pitch video: https://vimeo.com/920644132/183f735ef6
This group has been pushing The HOPE Outdoor Gallery forward for a while now. It's clearly a dream project, and their ambitions are inline with Nouns. Public Goods + Art. I see plans for charity fundraisers, public art installations, summer camps for creative career development. Less of an event space and more of a not-for-profit local hub, which is exactly where I would want to position Nouns. They are working with high caliber artists (Shepard Fairey!) and plan to incorporate Noggles into their main sign and include us in their Grand Opening. We will be part of the story.
I appreciate that they've raised funds and the project is in motion already. We don't have enough ETH to fund larger infrastructure on our own and I think we should get comfortable with strategic partnerships. For this place to succeed they need to be throwing a lot of events. I want to see Nouns events, but I also want to see unrelated events that feel Nounish in spirit, bringing in other groups and partners that we would proudly associate with.
There's actually a risk involved with putting the noggles there. What if the quality dips. What if they host low effort, low attendance events. What if the actual building isn't done well. Poor performance could hurt our brand in a serious way. Google 'apefest laser eyes'.
The team in the proposal is competent. I believe they can deliver. Truthfully though, it's Brennen's involvement that makes me want to chime in with this vote. He has been present in Nouns for years, building, investing, participating in the community. Always giving more than he takes. (Has he taken anything?). He brings the full Nounish wisdom to Austin, an in depth understanding of our values, our commitment to quality. I trust his enthusiasm for this project and team. If he is going to be present, working with the events team, I have full faith that the spirit of Nouns will be reflected in this building for years to come.
(noun40 voting via agora)
went back and forth a bit but landed on voting FOR. i generally don't like sponsorships (e.g. conference sponsorships) b/c those usually feel ephemeral and the impressions we get are low value since the attendees/viewers often have low context. i was originally looking at the prop through that lens feeling a little skeptical but after reading the part around the noggles sculpture being placed right next to the 5ft tall HOPE OUTDOOR GALLERY sign I started to feel like maybe this is closer to the Rusutsu prop (prop 218) which i really like. permanent and prominently placed noggles sculptures at the right locations can be interesting schelling points. ofc that prop was $200k and this is asking for $950k, but this is a non profit art park that needs funding (which i'm more partial towards like the stakepark restoration stuff we've funded in the past) and this also has the added potential to double as a nounish IRL gathering spot which is another thing I like (similar to the LA coffee shop, i think IRL gathering spots are good to complement all the online gathering we always do). ofc this isn't just a nouns-branding-only space so things are more complicated and there's less guarantees that it all shakes out in a way that feels fair to nouns BUT on that dimension i just have high trust with brennen. he not only has been an incredible nouner this whole time (through the fork and all) but also has selflessly poured his heart into helping nouns esports achieve the success it has. knowing he'll be on the ground and close to the project i have high faith some really nounish branding will be put in place (and other events, merch, etc). also austin is a pretty cool spot in general as place that art and tech intersects and i'm happy for nouns to put down some roots in that city. excited to see this come to life! go brennen!
The Amigos got tied, which means we need to abstain.
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FOR - 1 VOTES
AGAINST - 1 VOTES
atilioacm | "I'm sorry, it seems like a figure that could be more useful in financing, for example, 10 proposals in 10 different parts of the world and would have a greater impact. As mentioned before, the building is not exclusively Nounish and if they did not win the proposal they could put another logo and ask for financing elsewhere and it would be the same design."
ABSTAINS - 0 VOTES
I agree with ccarella's reasoning. It feels like any other brand could be there and this is is just a glorified sponsorhip. I also would've liked to see more around the role that Nouns will be playing post park construction. What exactly is the space we would be getting and how would Nouns be activated at each of these big events. Would that entail additional funding?
I don't think necessarily the budget is the problem (although it is substatial), rather a lack of a clear plan of Nouns involvement and defined objectives.
Willing to revisit if we get a clear, year-long plan with all events Nouns would be featured at and what activations there would be, but right now it doesn't feel very native or nounish.
I'm in favor of this proposal ✅ Seeing the work that Brennen has put into this and knowing his reputation in the Nouns community, I am in favor of his efforts!
Brennen has been incredibly supportive to me since I have gotten more involved with Nouns, demonstrating his genuine commitment to the community.
Austin's growth has been substantial, and I believe that establishing a hub for Nounish events and gatherings would be advantageous to the community!
Nouns have created a lot many ephemeral and sometimes powerful moments that forward the culture of public domain art + do good initiatives. Having a "permanent" AND hopefully minimal-to-no-future-cost spot to create IRL nounish experiences seem net positive. I see it in the same light as opening an IRL coffee shop. These venues can act as the watering holes nounsfolk need. Brennen is a trusted builder and I think will be a great liason to make sure the nounish soul is preserved in this project.
I am pretty hyped on Noun's ability to blend art and technology in the service of Ethereum, watching the Delivery at Dawn mint but this is not that. It does not have any impact on Ethereum and minimal network effects for Nouns. This is Nouns supporting the arts for art sake and at $950K it feels like there are better ways to support the arts then help an organization who raised $7.6M get over the finish line. It also doesn't feel uniquely Nounish to me, as they could just as easily slap another project's logo on it and continue with their plan. I wish there was more Ethereum in this prop and believe it's too big an ask in hopes that an unopened art park becomes a major tourist destination in a city with a lot of other things competing for its attention. I do not believe it will have the kind of network effects that Optimism's We ♥️ the Art initiative did, as an example of the kind of impact we can have for this budget. Finally, unlike LA, I do not forsee Austin becoming the center of IRL Nounish activations.
Over the past few months, I've had the privilege of working with Andi, and her passion for our city of Austin and its vibrant art scene has been truly inspiring. She's been tirelessly working to make her dream a reality: to open one of the largest Art Parks in the country. This project is not just a dream; it's a potential cultural phenomenon that could redefine what's possible in our city and beyond.
I believe that NounsDAO has a unique opportunity to be a part of this transformative journey. By supporting Andi's ambitious project, we can propel the Nouns community beyond the confines of web3 and into the hearts and minds of a wider audience. Yes, the cost is significant, and the proposal is ambitious, but the potential rewards are immense. This is a chance for NounsDAO to make a lasting impact, to be at the forefront of a cultural revolution that could sweep through Austin and set a new standard for cities everywhere.
Austin is a city that embodies the spirit of NounsDAO – innovative, creative, and community-driven. By embracing this opportunity with HOPE, we can tap into a cultural phenomenon that has the power to take our city, and the Nouns community, by storm. Let's seize this moment to turn Austin into a shining example of a Nounish city, and inspire others to follow suit, one city at a time.
Let's do something big!
Yes, this is a big ask BUT Austin has become one of the leading intersections of art and tech -- a perfect match for ⌐◨-◨. This location at first glance may not seem to make sense but thinking about SXSW plus the multiple web3 events hosted there, it actually seems like a great fit and can serve as a model for other locations. We already have giant noggles in Japan. I'd love to see some on this side of the world too.
Proliferation of the ⌐◨-◨ is the best approach moving forward to truly make this a global brand that others want to incoporate and build with.
Also consider this -- would you rather see noggles at an amazing art & event center or continue to let the arbers have the treasury?
I absolutely love IRL stuff for nouns and a permanent space like this in such an active area for events is awesome! The plans all sound really cool and I appreciate that people are on missions like this to bring nouns into everyday life, especially in the art scene. Would love to come and spend some time there!