Event Roundup: AI Creative Expression & Skills, Forging New Pathways Together with Arts Council England and techUK

Event Roundup: AI Creative Expression & Skills, Forging New Pathways Together with Arts Council England and techUK

Held on July 23rd, 2025, this collaborative event between techUK and Arts Council England successfully brought together diverse voices from the creative and technology sectors to examine the responsible integration of artificial intelligence within creative processes. This thoughtfully curated afternoon session explored how AI and the creative industries are evolving together to expand possibilities in creative expression, drawing participants from across artistic disciplines, technology development, and ethical frameworks.

Opening Keynote: Mapping the AI-Creative Landscape

The event commenced with an insightful keynote by Tonya Nelson, Executive Director of Arts Council England, address that discussed the evolving intersection between AI and creative industries. The presentation acknowledged both the transformative potential of this convergence and the nuanced considerations it presents for creative professionals. A significant highlight was Arts Council England's substantial investment in this space, in nearly 200 projects since 2019 supporting artists who use AI technologies as a creative medium or engage with the broader societal impacts of these technologies. Nelson highlighted the critical role of specialist organisations in leading community and audience engagement with AI technology, specifically noting how these institutions serve as bridges between emerging technology and creative practice.

The keynote emphasised the breadth of institutional support available, noting that among Arts Council England's network of 990 National Portfolio Organisations, several key institutions are leading the charge in supporting AI-creative collaboration. Notable examples included Serpentine Galleries in London, FACT in Liverpool, and Watershed in Bristol, demonstrating the geographic and institutional diversity of this movement.

An example shared was the Serpentine's Creative AI Lab, developed in partnership with King's College, which has commissioned artists Holly Herndon and Matt Dryhurst to create "The Call," an innovative exhibition incorporating choral music AI. This project involves developing AI-generated choral music using contributions from choirs across the UK, with participants engaged in crucial discussions about the legal frameworks for using the collected material. The project exemplifies how AI integration extends beyond creative output to encompass governance and ethical considerations in artistic practice.

Nelson advocated for a responsible, interim approach to emerging technologies, highlighting the value of inquiry, curiosity, and imaginative thinking. An approach that Arts Council England itself has taken through its partnership with BRAID (Bridging Responsible AI Divides) a national programme funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council that brings Arts and Humanities methods and thinking to AI policy development. Through this partnership Dr Oonagh Murphy has been working with the organisation as Responsible AI Fellow and leading on the development of policies and practices that engage with the impact of AI on the cultural sector.

Nelson concluded by positioningthe arts and culture sector as pivotal in identifying and framing the critical questions surrounding AI technologies, with the Arts Council committed to supporting a broad range of voices and perspectives in this ongoing conversation.

Interactive Demonstrations: AI in Creative Practice

One of the event's most compelling segments featured live demonstrations by musician and technologist Matthew Yee-King, working alongside academic and creative technologist Mark d'Inverno. This creative duo who have been working together for over 20 years showcased how tech tools are being thoughtfully integrated into creative workflows, with their collaborative work demonstrating practical applications that preserve and amplify human artistic vision while opening new avenues for expression and design.

The hands-on showcase presentation moved beyond theoretical discussions to reveal tangible applications of AI in creative practice. Attendees witnessed firsthand how these technologies can enhance rather than replace human creativity, demonstrating workflows that maintain aesthetic value and artistic integrity while expanding creative possibilities.

Panel Discussion 1: The Artist's Role in AI Development

Moderated by techUK, the first panel explored the evolving relationship between artists and AI technology development. The discussion centered on how creative professionals can take an active role in shaping the future of AI tools rather than simply being end-users of existing technology. Key themes included the technical and conceptual skills needed to work effectively with AI systems, and the importance of ethical frameworks that preserve artistic integrity. Panelists emphasised how artists can reimagine and reinvent technological futures by participating directly in development processes. The conversation highlighted the significant value of embedding creative perspectives within technology teams from the outset. The discussion equipped attendees with practical insights for forging new pathways for meaningful artistic involvement in technology development and implementation.

The panel showcased diverse projects and collaborative approaches, with Piotr Mirowski from Google DeepMind highlighting participatory and agentic AI approaches that give artists greater agency in pushing the boundaries of large language models. Kerwyn Tong from Digital Catapult discussed their creation of a virtual human for SXSW and the ethical dimensions of such work, while Aurora Hawcroft from British Council shared compelling examples of international collaboration in AI and the arts from Senegal, India, and South Africa. Victoria Ivanova from Serpentine Galleries stressed the critical importance of artists in AI governance and legal frameworks, emphasising how creative professionals can influence the development of responsible AI systems.

Key outcomes included exploring opportunities for international collaboration and knowledge sharing to build networks that center human values and diversity in technology development, investigating ways to give artists more agency in AI development, and continuing to prototype platforms that allow artists to train their own AI models with different levels of user access.

Panel Discussion 2: Creative AI Across Disciplines

Arts Council England moderated the second panel, which examined practical AI integration across diverse creative disciplines. This session focused intensively on the evolving digital skills landscape for artists and creators, with panelists sharing real-world insights on how creative professionals are currently adopting and utilising AI technologies. The panel addressed both the complexities and opportunities encountered when incorporating AI into creative practice. Through concrete examples and case studies, speakers illustrated how AI is being meaningfully integrated into creative workflows while supporting human artistic vision and aesthetic values.

The panel revealed applications across multiple artistic mediums. In creative practice and alternative realities, artists are using AI technologies like facial recognition and emotional response to create immersive art that blends technology with human experience. The National Youth Theatre is making impact through their Digital Accelerator program with Microsoft, training over 2,000 young people with a focus on ethical AI use and creative engagement, demonstrating how partnerships can enable accessible, inclusive experimentation with AI.

Dance accessibility has been transformed through AI-powered motion tracking and new software platforms, making it easier and more affordable to record and create with movement. The panel also explored how AI enables new forms of interactive education and storytelling, with live performance and archival materials engaging young audiences around themes of emotional intelligence and cultural influence.

Cultural influence emerged as a central theme, with recognition that AI is actively shaping storytelling and culture, placing artists in a key role for steering its development. This impact is being recognised at the highest levels, including by cultural leaders such as the Abu Dhabi Minister of Culture.

Collaborative approaches to upskilling within creative communities emerged as a central theme, with discussions addressing accessibility, training pathways, and knowledge-sharing frameworks. The panel provided attendees with practical insights into both technical and conceptual skills needed to engage with AI tools across various artistic mediums.

Practical outcomes emphasised the importance of grounded conversations and hands-on tools to help young people in the creative industries explore AI meaningfully and ethically, while highlighting that artists need practical skills, ethical awareness, and support for non-technical creatives. The discussions underscored that independent artists require access to collaborators, training, and R&D opportunities, with effective partnerships depending on clearly understanding shared goals and outcomes.

Notable Speakers and Contributors

The event featured an impressive lineup of experts from across the AI-creative spectrum. Key participants included Matthew Yee-King and Mark d'Inverno for the interactive demonstrations, alongside representatives from major institutions driving innovation in this space. The speaker roster encompassed voices from Serpentine Galleries' Future Art Ecosystems initiative, Digital Catapult's Immersive Labs, and pioneering individual practitioners such as interactive storyteller Karen Palmer and computational creativity researcher Piotr Mirowski from Google DeepMind.

The diversity of perspectives was further enhanced by contributions from Alexander Whitley Dance Company, National Youth Theatre's Digital Accelerator program in partnership with Microsoft, and academic researchers including a performance by UAL's Lizzie Wilson, representing the breadth of creative disciplines engaging with AI technologies.

Continuing the Conversation: Resources for Further Exploration

Recognizing that a single afternoon could only begin to address the complex intersection of AI and creative practice, organisers compiled an extensive resource list for continued exploration. This curated collection includes Arts Council England's Responsible AI Toolkit and practical resources, Serpentine Galleries' ongoing Future Art Ecosystems research, and individual practitioners' projects that exemplify innovative AI-creative collaboration.

Arts Council England

Responsible AI at Arts Council England https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/research-and-data/responsible-ai-arts-council-england

Responsible AI Practical Toolkit

https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/lets-create/strategy-2020-2030/investment-principles/investment-principles-resource-hub/dynamism-resource-hub/responsible-ai-practical-toolkit

Data Ethics Professional - webinar recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSoEJuOlcp8

Serpentine Galleries

Future Art Ecosystems https://futureartecosystems.org

Choral Data 'Trust' Experiment Whitepaper https://zenodo.org/records/14859320

Matthew Yee-King

Personal website https://http://www.yeeking.net/

Mark d'Iverno

Academic page https://mus.hkbu.edu.hk/people-detail/mark-dinverno

Digital Catapult

Immersive Labs https://www.digicatapult.org.uk/apply/labs/immersive-labs/

Piotr Mirowski

Personal website https://piotrmirowski.com

Improbotics https://improbotics.org

Human Machine Improv https://humanmachine.live

British Council

Why technology needs artists: 40 international perspectives https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/why-technology-needs-artists

techUK

Mapping the Responsible AI Profession, A Field in Formation https://www.techuk.org/resource/techuk-paper-mapping-the-responsible-ai-profession-a-field-in-formation.html

Karen Palmer

Personal website https://http://karenpalmer.uk

Consensus Gentium https://http://karenpalmer.uk/portfolio/consensusgentium/ + Interview https://xrmust.com/xrmagazine/karen-palmer-tom-millen-consensus-gentium/

National Youth Theatre

Digital Accelerator (in partnership with Microsoft) https://www.nyt.org.uk/get-tickets/digital-accelerator

Digital Impact Video https://www.nyt.org.uk/get-tickets/digital-accelerator

Microsoft

Responsible AI at Microsoft https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/responsible-ai

Alexander Whitley Dance Company

Company page https://www.alexanderwhitley.com

Otmo https://otmo.studio

Oonagh Murphy

Personal page https://oonaghmurphy.com/

Academic profile https://www.gold.ac.uk/icce/staff/murphy-oonagh/

Lizzie Wilson

Personal page https://lwlsn.github.io/

Key Takeaways and Impact

The event successfully bridged the gap between technology development and creative application, demonstrating that responsible AI integration requires active collaboration between creative professionals and technologists. The discussions revealed concrete pathways for artists to engage more deeply with AI development, from international collaboration networks that center human values and diversity, to platforms that allow artists to train their own models and access different levels of technological capability.

Perhaps most significantly, the event moved beyond abstract discussions of AI's potential to showcase concrete examples of successful integration through the diverse work of its speakers and contributors. From computational creativity research to immersive storytelling and dance performance, the breadth of applications demonstrated the maturity of the field while highlighting areas for continued development. The event highlighted how AI is being integrated as a complementary tool across disciplines - from the National Youth Theatre's training of over 2,000 young people in ethical AI use, to dance companies using motion tracking for improved accessibility, to filmmakers positioning cultural leaders as key shapers of public understanding around AI-generated content.

The conversations revealed that effective AI integration in the creative industries requires a multifaceted approach: combining practical skills development with ethical awareness, ensuring access to collaborators and R&D for independent artists, and maintaining clear understanding of shared goals in partnerships between creative and technology sectors.

True to its inclusive design, the event attracted its two primary target audiences - technology developers creating AI tools for creative practitioners, and creative professionals interested in thoughtfully incorporating AI capabilities into their work. The organisers' commitment to accessibility was evident in their approach to discussions and demonstrations, which required no extensive technical background while remaining intellectually stimulating.

This cross-sector event represents a significant step forward in fostering responsible, collaborative approaches to AI integration in creative industries, setting a strong foundation for continued dialogue and innovation at this critical intersection. The recognition of cultural influence as a central theme - with artists positioned as key steerers of AI development and cultural leaders acknowledging this signalling a maturation of the field and its growing significance in shaping broader societal understanding of AI technologies.

If you are interested in attending techUK's next creative technology event, please register here - Creating, Innovating & Experimenting: Exploring the Use of Tech in the Creative Industries - a techUK X Creative UK event