Basel's House of Electronic Arts and Tezos Foundation Partner to Preserve Digital Art

Partnership brings together virtual and physical exhibitions, workshops, and long-term initiatives focused on the preservation of digital art.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 9:07am

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The House of Electronic Arts (HEK) in Basel, Switzerland and the Tezos Foundation have announced a year-long partnership to expand the museum experience and support digital art. The collaboration will include virtual and physical exhibitions, workshops, and long-term initiatives focused on preserving blockchain-based artworks.

Why it matters

This partnership reflects the growing importance of blockchain technology in the art world, as institutions seek new ways to support, exhibit, and preserve digital art. By combining virtual and physical experiences, the HEK and Tezos aim to make digital art more accessible and educate audiences about the potential of blockchain for the creative economy.

The details

The partnership will feature two virtual exhibitions on HEK's online platform, along with an outdoor presentation at Art Basel. Six international artists working with digital and blockchain-based practices will be featured, with their work released in collaboration with Objkt, a marketplace built on the Tezos blockchain. The initiative also includes on-site kiosks and workshops to help visitors understand NFTs, blockchain, and digital ownership.

  • The partnership was announced in February 2026.

The players

House of Electronic Arts (HEK)

A museum in Basel, Switzerland dedicated to digital culture, media art, and technology.

Tezos Foundation

A digital ecosystem that enables artists, curators, and institutions to create, exhibit, sell, and preserve artworks on the blockchain.

Aleksandra Artamonovskaja

Head of art at TriliTech, Tezos' R&D hub in London.

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What they’re saying

“Our primary objective is growth, adoption, and education—onboarding more people into blockchain through meaningful new experiences. But growth alone isn't enough. We're also asking: what does success actually look like for the creative economy?”

— Aleksandra Artamonovskaja, Head of art at TriliTech (ARTnews)

“One of the most important things we do is bring together world-class talent to foster hybrid experiences. This builds on initiatives the Tezos Foundation has supported for years, including our second-year partnership with the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI), where the focus was on blockchain as a medium.”

— Aleksandra Artamonovskaja, Head of art at TriliTech (ARTnews)

“Education is absolutely crucial. A certain level of grounding is necessary to fully understand and engage with work that uses blockchain as an integral component.”

— Aleksandra Artamonovskaja, Head of art at TriliTech (ARTnews)

What’s next

HEK is participating in the EU COST Action EMBARK, leading an international training school on NFT preservation at the ZKM museum in Karlsruhe, Germany. The initiative aims to equip professionals with the knowledge needed to maintain blockchain-based art over time.

The takeaway

This partnership between HEK and the Tezos Foundation highlights the growing importance of blockchain technology in the art world, as institutions seek new ways to support, exhibit, and preserve digital art. By combining virtual and physical experiences, the collaboration aims to make digital art more accessible and educate audiences about the potential of blockchain for the creative economy.