< Women in New Media >
Moderator's Introduction:
Welcome to the Women in New Media Panel.
I am looking forward to the discussion ahead, in part-- because I see this symposia as a significant in-point for an on-going dialogue between Women in the new media and arts communities. It is important for us to determine how we can meet on a regular basis and present our work, our production and distribution strategies and finally, discuss how we are affecting the broader, culture at large.
As we will soon witness, the panelists' here today, are creating innovative and dynamic spaces for these forms of dialogue and presentation both on and off the Net. The production, distribution and community building around artistic practice and cultural research is beginning to take shape and Women are an essential element in this process.
However, just as we are about to view and analyze numerous creative and critical uses of the technology we should also consider these issues:
1. How are the production of on-line communications projects and net.art.works being supported and funded here in the States and abroad?
2. How are these works being critically received by the art world and by other forms of mass media such as broadcast television, cable and print journalism?
3. How are the works being distributed to audiences in the physical world outside the Net?
3. And finally how are artists' engaging in dialogue with their audience including other artists?
These are important questions to ask and answer because they are the difference between having an impact on our societies or being not at all present.