Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Chickenshed NYC
Legal Name (if Different): American Friends of Chicken Shed Inc.
Also Known As: Chickenshed NYC
Mailing Address: 1441 Broadway, 5th Floor
City: New York
State: NY
Postal Code: 10018
Main Phone: 6143610778
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.chickenshednyc.org/
Employer ID Number: 300099170
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 03/29/2024
Requested Amount: 10000

Project Title: Did AI Write This Musical?
Project Description:

Chickenshed NYC is the city’s inclusive theatre company for young people. Our core program is an inclusive theatrical community of children and teens (ages 5-18) who represent a diverse range of abilities/disabilities, races, gender identities/sexual orientations, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds.

Following a planned Fall 2024 scripted musical that explores the differences and similarities between humans and robots, our Chickensed Players will explore the exciting and sometimes frightening frontier of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our Players will meet with experts in AI as it applies to art, media, communications, and neuroscience. They will try to answer questions such as:

-How does AI work?
-How does AI differ from human intelligence and neurology?
-Can we/how do we distinguish between products (e.g. social media, school reports, scripts, music, and designs) that are created by AI and those created by humans?
-How can AI help our community (e.g. our neurodiverse members)? What are its pitfalls to our community?

Central to this project will be the creation of a storyline and design brief that will be “assigned” to AI software programs. Our theatre practitioners will then facilitate a group of Chickenshed Players in developing a script that uses the same brief. Another group will develop a musical scaffold (or “Jukebox”) for the script, and a third group will work with our longtime designer to create set and costume designs. The entire company will then compare and contrast the AI- and human-generated projects; develop a show; and then rehearse and perform the devised piece for public audiences on June 13-15, 2025.

In a year when artificial intelligence is expected to play a prominent role in life, we believe this project will create a safe environment for our young people to gain an understanding of science and technology, as it applies to social action and social change.

Total Project Budget: 60000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Simons Foundation, $30,000.00 (committed) Hermanowski Foundation: $10,000.00 (potential) Board donations/sponsorships: $10,000.00 (committed) Other Donation $3,000.00 (potential) Ticket Sales $7,000.00 (projected)

Project Duration: January 1 – June 20 2025
Geographical Area Served: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and The Bronx
Age Group To Be Served: 5 – 18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr
Contact First Name: Elliot
Contact Last Name: Fishman
Contact Title: General Manager
Contact Phone: 6143610778
Contact Email: elliot@chickenshednyc.org