Masterclass The Art of Financial Hacking

  • How can art be a tool for financial hacks? 

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    Join the masterclass!

    The financial sector – when viewed from afar – can seem like a desolate, cold and brutal mix of relentless money-making, mathematics and Machiavellian mystery. Increasingly though, adventurous artists, hackers and activists are probing the contours of the sector, using it as raw material for fun and subversive financial hacks. Can you build a hedge fund as a way to infiltrate into the inner workings of the sector, or can you design an algorithm that jams the traditional logic of markets? What about going undercover, or using the sector as the setting for interactive theatre?

    As part of Economia festival Baltan Laboratories is hosting an extensive two-day masterclass about the art of financial hacking. In this masterclass, acclaimed artist Paolo Cirio and financial explorer Brett Scott will take you on a journey into the dark heart of finance, showcase previous financial art-hacks, and then help you design your own.

    The financial sector – when viewed from afar – can seem like a desolate, cold and brutal mix of relentless money-making, mathematics and Machiavellian mystery. Increasingly though, adventurous artists, hackers and activists are probing the contours of the sector, using it as raw material for fun and subversive financial hacks. Can you build a hedge fund as a way to infiltrate into the inner workings of the sector, or can you design an algorithm that jams the traditional logic of markets? What about going undercover, or using the sector as the setting for interactive theatre?

    About the masterclass leaders

    Paolo Cirio is a conceptual artist who works with legal, economic and semiotic systems of the information society. He investigates social fields impacted by the internet, such as privacy, copyright, democracy and finance. He shows his research and intervention-based works through artifacts, photos, installations, videos, and public art. Paolo Cirio has exhibited his work in museums and institutions around the globe and won numerous prestigious art awards.

    Brett Scott is a journalist, campaigner and the author of 'The Heretic’s Guide to Global Finance: Hacking the Future of Money' (2013). He works on financial reform, alternative finance and economic activism with a wide variety of NGOs, artists, students and start-ups, and writes for publications such as The Guardian, New Scientist, Wired Magazine and CNN.com. He is a Senior Fellow of the Finance Innovation Lab, an Associate at the Institute of Social Banking and an advisory group member of the Brixton Pound. He tweets as @suitpossum.

    About Economia

    Economia An inspiring festival on economy with new perspectives and insights for alternative economic futures. is a 3-day festival that explores new ideas and thinking about our economy. It is a laboratory for ideas which allows us to step out of the existing frame of thought. The festival presents unexpected and playful approaches looking at the essence of economy, thus establishing a fresh point of view on the economic system and our society.

    We're offering an extensive program of keynote lectures, films, performances, installations, playful interventions and workshops which will bring you new perspectives and insights for alternative, (less predefined) economic futures/roadmaps. Curious? You can find detailed program information on the Econmia website.

    Part of Economia is the second Renewable Futures Conference, aiming to push the boundaries of our thinking about economy. The conference is organized in close collaboration with RIXC and the Renewable Futures Program.

    Practical Masterclass information

    Date: 28 & 29 April, 11:00 – 17:00
    Location: Baltan Laboratories (Kastanjelaan 500)
    Ticket: €25,00 (regular) / €20,00 (student) including lunch on both days

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