# Invitation to Black Sky Society Black Sky Society invites you to join our expanding society of thinkers, artists, mystics, and technologists aiming to establish a small network of knowledge-centered research & arts centers around the world, focused on putting into practice [Six Topics](https://blacksky.network/#six-topics) via the [Six Tenets](https://blacksky.network/#six-tenets). As a society, we’re not just looking at the next quarter or annual report, but towards the horizon — 10, 20, even 100 years from now — where we minimize dystopia and maximize cosmic harmony. **Contents** [TOC] ## Vision and Structure Black Sky Society envisions a network of creative research and arts nodes called Skylabs, each contributing to [six key topics of interest](https://blacksky.network/#six-topics). To achieve this vision without compromising the current essence of the society, we plan to fundraise through Keystone memberships. Our grander ambition includes developing a community currency, carefully designed to bring about a sizable modern-day society that has the capacity to catalyze and fund large-scale science and engineering projects comparable to what nation states undertake today. The society's design is meant to encourage the voluntary funding of Skylabs, research, projects, and art related to the society's core interests. We're exploring various avenues to secure financial independence and sovereignty. Before launching a community currency, we'll likely create an NFT collection featuring characters from the Black Sky Universe. Our goal is to complete our financial model by year-end, while maintaining transparency with all members who have decided to join our society throughout the process. Our membership structure consists of four tiers. Zeniths embody the foundational vision and commitment, serving as visionaries, protectors, and pragmatists. They are the most dedicated, with lifetime commitments. Keystones provide integral support and financial stability, while actively participating in shaping the society's future. Catalysts spark innovation and creativity, contributing their unique perspectives and skills as they develop within the society. Skylytes encompass all individuals surrounding Black Sky Society's activities, including those who are attending one of our events or discussions for the first time. We imagine that as Black Sky Society grows, independent organizational units will be formed as people meet and merge worlds. Those most closely aligned with Black Sky Society may choose to commit a percentage of profits towards the advancement of Skylabs which are advancing research topics, or other commons projects. To develop our network of Skylabs, we're refining a methodology centered around our six topics of interest. Each topic will be organized around six principles, using an imaginative systems engineering approach, and operating with rough consensus in the process of defining principles. Once a topic has had sufficient discussion and interest, with firmly established principles, an Alliance will form for independent stewardship. The Zenith Council will serve as the initial guides and leaders of Black Sky Society. We recognize the significant financial contributions of early Zeniths, particularly of Stella R. Magnet, and plan to reconcile these efforts as the society grows. We aim to decentralize power to a Monastery, when there are at least 12 Zeniths who have committed to leadership roles in establishing Skylabs worldwide, ensuring a diverse and global presence. Ultimately, these Skylabs will become the initial set of validators in the Black Sky Network. Through this structure and network development apporach, we believe Black Sky Society can contribute in the most effective way to advancing the six topics, where leadership can be shared with a wide range of aligned individuals and organizations. Together, we can progress towards a more free, peaceful, and awe inspiring society where we are united by common curiosities and ebullient determination. ## Projects & Budgets Black Sky Society is affiliated with three major project areas this year: 1. [Post-Web Nexus](https://seed.radicle.garden/raw/rad:z2fNbaEJvctMicPrHGryuRkXH37sz/04eeaba213a3568a4f3ef14b35bca6028199dceb/get-involved.html): Research index & zine that propagates Post-Web 2. Greek Hacker House & Pop-Up Village 3. Autonomous Ecologies 3, Ephemeral 02, and emergent event experiments. Project overviews and estimated budgets are described below. Based on the total amount of funds raised, more accurate budgeting, and discussions with Keystone members, we will better establish optimal scheduling, and configuration of projects. ### Post-Web Nexus The Post-Web Nexus is an emerging ecosystem agnostic, research-oriented movement for the future of internet connectivity that prioritizes local-first, peer-to-peer, private, resilient, and interoperable networks. Privacy and individual sovereignty over personal data are paramount. Additionally, we anticipate the use of multiple cryptocurrencies through a heterogeneous, privacy-preserving financial transport layer. This endeavor will take the form of a decentralized systems engineering experiment, called Post-Web Nexus, drawing upon open knowledge and community-driven research as the core of its sensemaking process. While the Post-Web has been operating more like an underground project, facilitated by Black Sky Society, it is now breaking free to form an independent Post-Web Alliance. This Alliance is seeking donations and grants from both individual and organizations, to help formally activate the creation of the Post-Web Nexus. #### Estimated Budget * $250,000-$300,000 [See the full breakdown](https://postweb.nexus/raw/rad:z2fNbaEJvctMicPrHGryuRkXH37sz/head/get-involved.html) ### Greek Hacker House & Pop-Up Society *Crafting the Blueprint for a Post-Web World* Dare we step back from prevailing technological and economic frameworks? Can this detachment foster visions for the dawn of the post-web age? The fate of open digital infrastructures hinges on our capacity for innovative thinking, both technologically and economically. As the tendrils of digitalism weave through our existence, it's vital to periodically reevaluate and challenge our current paradigms. Over-reliance on centralized internet models and age-old financial conduits might constrain the vast horizons of our digital evolution. By purposefully deviating from these norms and embracing genuine human interactions, we endeavor to sculpt the contours of the post-web universe. Imagine the tranquility of a remote Greek village, surrounded by olive groves. Our vision? To transform one such locale into a co-creative post-web, for a total of six weeks, including a two week offline experiment, where we disconnect from not only from mainstream society, but the internet at large. This initiative invites artists, thinkers, mystics, and the highly curious to a Temporary Autonomous Zone (TAZ) to come together and to determine the best way we reconnect. Here, collaborators embark on a spirited voyage, crafting systems, technologies, and artistic interpretations meant to synthesize *better worlds* and *better networks*. We plan to cover topics beyond the Post-Web as well, representing the six topics of Black Sky Society. Current programming ideas include inviting participation from quantum physicists, Greek Orthodox priests, cryptographers, philosophers, science fiction authors, and artists exploring transcendental mediums. But at the same time, we see this as a place and set of occurrences that will be a part of the Post-Web history, where we were able to slow down, disconnect, and strategically map out and imagine together, without limits. *The Pop-up Society would take place October 1st - November 10th, with the 2 week offline component ocurring at the end.* #### Goals * We aim to initially cultivate a small and curated community of people first, in a private pop-up village, while also inviting aligned projects to rent houses nearby. * Black Sky Society will organize meals, art, ambiance, programming, facilitating unique conversations and scheming about the future. * We will document aspects of the experience, with photography and videography, and people can find out the exact location after we have left. * Keystone members are credited as producers of this experience. * For the offline experiment, everyone would be fully disconnected from the internet for 2 weeks. At least one facilitator will be online but will only come to speak breaking protocol to communicate with people in the offline experiment, in the case of a family emergency of a participant. * We are considering keeping the location of the pop-up village private until after the experiment is over. This is up for discussion with Keystone members. #### Estimated Budget * $22,000 - 1 year of rent, utilities, transportation, house supplies (Hacker House) * $20,000 - Technical & AV foundations (For Hacker House, yet to also support offline immersives, where we are connected in a LAN) * $40,000 - Food/catering (Offline Hackathon segment - 2 weeks, 200 ppl) * $10,000 - Roundtrip airfare for 6 core team members contributing to ops & production * $100,000 - Labor/program management * $20,000 - Videography of the experience Subtotal: $212,000 Contingency (20%): $42,400 Total with contingency: $254,400 Notes: - An anonymous donor has contributed $13K already to help with Hacker House costs, and the contract has been signed. - For the hacker house, we want to experiment with both sponsored residencies for those who cannot afford it, and also paid residencies for those who have the means, to help make the hacker house self-sustaining. Residencies will be 1-3 months in length. ### Autonomous Ecologies 3, Ephemeral 02 In March 2023 during EthDenver and in July 2023 during ETHCC, Black Sky Society hosted two side events, Autonomous Ecologies #1 and Autonomous Ecologies #2 - supported by co-organizers Anoma and Knowable. In November 2023, we also organized Ephemeral 01 as a side event to Devconnect in Istanbul, continuing these conversations in a more artistic and offline setting, with the distribution of the Post-Web Zine Vol 1, discussion circles, art, music. The gatherings focused on transforming collaboration and economics for the Post-Web and rethinking the foundational infrastructure of the Web itself. At Ephemeral, we ziptied people's phones at the door, and also gave everyone colored rings to participate in an "internet shutdown" experiment, where for a moment, people who had red rings represented those cut off from the internet, and weren't allowed to talk to others. We plan to organize Autonomous Ecologies 3 and Ephemeral 2 as events that conclude our pop-up village experiment, in the same location. We think the time is now to break free from organizing events as side events to larger crypto conferences. Audience-wise, we want to get people exposed to these ideas who are new to the space, that will have something to add. We plan on extensibly promoting the events locally in Greece, with a donation-based ticketing to strengthen our sustainability. #### Estimated Budget * $40,000 - Venue, AV, Food, Drinks, Signage (AE3) * $10,000 - Local advertisements and outreach * $30,000 - Booking artistic talent, DJs (Ephemeral) * $10,000 - Sound, Light, AV, Visuals (Ephemeral) * $100,000 - Labor: Production, Ops, Marketing, Creative, Event Staff, Design, Promotional Videos, Post-Production (max) Subtotal: $190,000 Contingency (20%): $38,000 Total with contingency: $228,000 *Note that the budgets for the Events & Pop-Up Village are *very rough*. We plan to do more detailed budgets to see what is more realistically possible after we have secured Keystone Membership funding.* ## Keystone Membership To make it more efficient to bring our projects to life and build strong, long-term relationships with those who want to collaborate with us, we are first seeking up to **four** Keystone members to Black Sky Society, who can commit $100,000 each this year. This $100,000 will be split into two grants, with the first $50K provided as we commence our relationship, which will be allocated to Post-Web Nexus, while the next $50K will be awarded to support your choice of hacker house, pop-up society, and/or other events, assuming we are able to successfully reach a minimum of $600K in commitments (including Keystone memberships). **Membership Benefits** - We are the earliest allies, shaping not only the Post-Web together, but also Black Sky Society -- in a high-trust setting - Keystone membership is invite-only, with up to four available, and a 2-year commitment preferred. We are also open to having only 2 Keystone members, commiting $200K each. - Designated as a founding Keystone of Black Sky Society, with privilege to participate in the planning process of Black Sky Society's economy.