Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, isn’t exactly where you’d imagine significant aspects of the Metaverse being built. But that’s precisely the purpose of the Metaverse. And no one knows this better than Paige Dansinger. World-builder, futurist, museum founder, and listed as one of the top 25 women in the Metaverse, she’s put Minneapolis front and center in the Metaverse.
A Mission to Rebuild the World
Emerging technology creates widespread, positive impact – potent at grassroots levels. Paige agrees: “I feel a sense of responsibility to use emerging technologies as a tool to make a better world for people and community groups and strive to make a larger social impact in and out of the Metaverse. Everyone wants to be seen and heard; with creative and emerging technology, this is easy and only takes a few seconds to change lives. Empowering people through opportunities, design, and experiences motivates me.” Who benefits? Paige is forthright: “As much as I want and strive for full system and social change, even one person or one undervalued space is enough. We can create models of more inclusive societies by empowering individuals, groups, and communities with access, visibility, and agency.” Currently VP of Metaverse at Third Academy, Paige highlights the impact of her role: “It’s an exciting opportunity to develop a community educational launchpad; we have so many exciting opportunities for innovation for making community-focused engagement that stimulates larger systems exchanges.”
Power of Emerging Tech
What is it about technology? This remarkable builder says: “The real reason I love technology is that it shares the stories of humans, our joys and vulnerabilities.” What sparked this love affair with emerging technology and community building? “I have a BFA in Fine Arts (1993) from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD) and an MA in Art History (St. Thomas University, St. Paul, MN, 2010),” she tells us. “From 2005 to 2012, I worked at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) as a security guard, educator in public programs, intern curator, and volunteer register. I was an early adopter of social media and saw that a mobile device was all that was needed to be a museum. I had quit my museum job, and on Monday had an epiphany: I was playing a game on my phone where one draws pictures based on words and gets points when guessed correctly. I got the ‘world hunter’ and drew a famous Dutch painting, and the person guessed it correctly. I got 7 coins. Right then, I knew I was the smartest unemployed art historian ever, and that changed my life – and devoted myself to creative technology forever.”
Community Chest
Paige has created hundreds of worlds in the Metaverse: she founded the Better World Museum, Horizon Art Museum, and Women in Horizon. She is a relentless community-builder: XR Women, XR Brain Jam, Games for Change, MIT Reality Hackathon (participant and judge), and was recognized by Facebook as a Community Leadership Fellow for her incredible exploits. Tech meets communities through Paige’s work – in remarkable ways.
The same happened in more of Paige’s social VR world-building platforms. During the first few months of the pandemic, three teens (13 – 15-year-olds) asked her whether they could build her a new museum. She agreed and put her faith in them. “A few days later, they reached out to say they had finished. I was so impressed with their work. They became leaders in the museum: we had a lead architect and a museum educator, and we made recordings of one of them giving 30-second lessons on a VR Holo-projector gizmo, and a museum DJ. We also had an 11-year-old Artist-in-Resident, who created an art installation about trees and growing.” That branched out to more world-building with those teens – with an extraordinary twist. This team presented its project at the World Health Organization + Create 2030 Art and Covid Symposium in 2020 as a ‘Recipe for Resilience.’ Today, some teen participants are studying 3D design at university, and others have created more worlds and become educators and leaders of their own VR communities. She says: “All I did was treat the teens like leaders today rather than leaders of the future.”
Experiences, Entertainment, and Education
“With my first experience with a VR headset, I drew a flower and posted it on social media inviting anyone to remix or add to it,” Paige remembers, “someone said it was the stupidest thing to do – and I disagreed! At a time of social and political polarization, my first VR experience created a space that fostered diversity, inclusion, empathy, and equity. It also fostered real-world relationships. With over 4,000 participants and several variations of the VR garden, I knew that people who drew together ultimately drew together for a better world.” One such community is the Women in Horizon Worlds. When she founded it, Paige quickly realized she was among the first women in this new space. She recalls: “As one of the first women on a new platform, I wanted to make a safe and brave space for women, diverse, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Today, our group is not quiet nor socially neutral; we even hosted a collaborative world-building project and marching protest against the reversal of Roe vs. Wade!” That’s not all. Through Women in Horizon Worlds, Paige regularly hosts Women’s Summits, Black Futures Summits, social events, and numerous skills-building workshops. Over 1,000 members have created community world hubs, and panels on leadership, career development, support, and representation in industry.
Another of her projects, Horizon Art Museum (‘People’s Choice,’ Vidyuu Awards, 2022), is an ever-expanding museum with over 35 worlds created with primitive shapes. Over 30 interactive, immersive gallery worlds recreate museum works by women artists, World Heritage sites, and pop culture. Paige’s energy and passion are boundless. She also participates in hackathons: XR Brain Jam (hosted by Games for Change), MIT Reality Hackathon (where she is a judge and mentor), and Presence Platform Hackathon (hosted by Meta).
Paige is already at work on her next big project. With empowerment at its center, you can be rest assured it will have a far-reaching impact. Paige concludes: “We all have an opportunity to live and thrive because of each other and technology.”
