UPGRADE! SL is a meeting place for artists in Second Life working in emergent and new media forms to share their projects. UPGRADE SL! is unique in the UG! network in that it is the first node dedicated entirely to art in virtual worlds, especially Second Life and OpenSim. Therefore, it is without a grographicallocationon the UPGRADE! map, as we are truly of an alternative space.

Formed by Patrick Lichty (aka Man Michinaga, Columbia College Chicago) and James Morgan (aka Rubyat Shatner, Ars Virtua), UPGRADE SL is also cupported by members of the SL artists community, and serve as hosts/MC's as well.

Upgrade! is an international, emerging network of autonomous nodes united by art, technology, and a commitment to bridging cultural divides. Its decentralized, non-hierarchical structure ensures that Upgrade! (i) operates according to local interests and their available resources; and (ii) reflects current creative engagement with cutting edge technologies. While individual nodes present new media projects, engage in informal critique, and foster dialogue and collaboration between individual artists, Upgrade! International functions as an online, global network that gathers annually in different cities to meet one another, showcase local art, and work on the agenda for the following year.

Upgrade! Background: Since April 1999, a group of new media artists and curators have gathered in New York City. The first meeting took place at a bar in the east village with Tim Whidden & Mark River [MTAA], Mark Napier and founder, media artist Yael Kanarek. Upgrade! New York partnered with Eyebeam in March 2000.

Organizations: Eyebeam, Turbulence.org, New Media Scotland, Art Centre Nabi, The Western Front, The Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), InterSpace, i-camp, DCA, CCA, No-Org.net, Art Interactive, NOMAD/santralistanbul, program angels/lothringer13, Open-Node.com, t-u-b-e, C-M.TV, Lisboa 20, AT. joburg, University of the Witwatersrand, Ars Longa, 911 Media Arts Center, Ars Virtua / BitFactory Columbia College Chicago(Second Life).