The following announcement is being cross-posted to discussion lists for the arts and humanities, media, technology, and public policy. Apologies for any duplicate messages you may receive. CYBERSPACE / PUBLICSPACE: THE ROLE OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN DEFINING A VIRTUAL PUBLIC SPHERE INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE Global changes in politics, economics, and technology have thrown into question the concept of the public and the role of the public sphere in society, especially first-world information societies. In this new environment, what is the public sphere and what role do culture and the arts play in its construction? How have the definition and significance of art and culture changed as media have transformed our notions of publicity and public discourse? These are the topics of "Cyberspace/PublicSpace: The Role of Arts and Culture in Defining a Virtual Public Sphere," an on-going electronic dialogue being launched by the Getty Center for the History of Art and the Humanities and the Getty Art History Information Program. "Cyberspace/PublicSpace" is a component of a larger research project of the Getty, "Public Space / Culture Wars: Redefining the Cultural Public Sphere." You are invited to participate in the "Cyberspace/PublicSpace" dialogue on questions of cultural production and community in the digital environment. Three papers have been commissioned from authorities in public policy, media arts, and technology in order to start the discussion. They are: "Electronic Curbcuts: Equitable Access to the Future," by Larry Goldberg, The CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media "Cyberspace is not Disneyland: The Role of the Artist in a Networked World," by Amy Bruckman, Epistemology and Learning Group, Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology "Close Comfort: Soft Ware for Hard Times," by DeeDee Halleck, Department of Communication, University of California, San Diego We invite you to comment on the papers by responding to the issues they raise and by proposing other topics relevant to the discussion. You can participate via the World Wide Web by pointing your browser to the following location: http://www.ahip.getty.edu/cyberpub/ You can also participate by electronic mail by subscribing to the Cyberspace/PublicSpace discussion list. Send an e-mail message to [log in to unmask] with the following text in the message area (leave the "Subject:" line blank): subscribe cyberpub your_e-mail_address When you subscribe you will receive instructions on downloading the papers and participating in the discussion. Thank you for your interest in "Cyberspace/PublicSpace." We look forward to your participation. Sincerely, David Jensen James M. Bower Project Managers, Director's Office Getty Art History Information Program