Problem

Before the pandemic, Better World Museum distributed headsets by bringing VR Garden, a participatory community garden VR interactive drawing experience to create more empathy and equity, to local and global communities only to return weeks later or not at all. This approach inadvertently perpetuated inequitable systems by reinforcing the lack of accessible technology and treating community members as outsiders rather than integral parts of the museum. The utilization of immersive technology was inherently intertwined with systems of racism and oppression, which needed to be dismantled.

Recognizing their responsibility, Better World Museum had to redefine its relationship with the community and actively work to deconstruct traditional power structures and physical barriers within museum spaces.

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Museum of Positive Affirmations. ShayArtsz, Better World Museum AIR Participant, Meta Horizon Worlds

Museum for Black Women. ANGLtheARTIST, Better World Museum AIR Participant, Meta Horizon Worlds

Solution

Better World Museum redefined its relationship with the community by creating a "White-Walled Template Museum" within the social VR platform Meta Horizon Worlds, situated in an environment reminiscent of elite museum districts. Through their Artist in Residence program, participants were empowered to reimagine and reshape this template into their vision of a better world.

This shift has empowered participants, resulting in increased agency, global recognition, additional revenue streams, and investment in their communities. Participants were encouraged to retain the museum's logo and name while selecting a nonprofit organization for the museum to donate to as a token of gratitude for their positive real-world impact.

Impact

Increased agency for participants
Global recognition for participants' work
Addition revenue streams for participants
Investment in communities through nonprofit donations from Better World Museum

Members

Member #1 - Project Director
- Built the "White-Walled Template Museum" within the social VR platform Meta Horizon Worlds, and led a similar Youth Leadership Role Development program in Rec Room
- Managed the Artist in Residence program and ensured participants were empowered to reimagine and reshape the template into their vision of a better world
Rec Room Members - T3L3K3ISIS, Maddy, DJ, Alx
- Watch Playlist
Meta Horizon Worlds Members - ANGLTHEARTIST, VJFranzK, ShayArtsz
- Watch Playlist
- Watch: Growing your SkillSet with Technology by Sharenda Hopkins, Women in Tech

Better World Museum Empowers Communities Using Social VR