Workshop within teamwork - with policies for the creative innovations of the future in focus
team is funded by the European Commission and concerns policies for innovation in the Cultural and Creative Industries — KKN (we use KKN here but see it as broadly synonymous with cultural and creative sectors, FGM, and cultural and creative industries, KKB). A large number of European countries are involved in the policy project team and so-called Policy Assessment workshops have been arranged sometimes in Saint-Etienne, Rotterdam, Kosice and Bratislava. Autumn 2024 was held Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Skills at Future by Lund. The work was done on the basis of the three innovation portfolios “Personalised Digital Live Experiences”, “Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, and Immersive Tech” and “Fashion & Textile Transformation”. The various portfolios included actors and specialists from public, private and non-profit organizations, as well as from academia.
The first innovation portfolio was Archaeology, Cultural Heritage & Immersive Tech. Here was a starting point Uppåkra just outside Lund, where there is a large area of archaeological finds. Most of it is still unexcavated and one sees an opportunity to make a visiting activity based on storytelling. By drawing attention to and developing the discoveries born in actual productions and actions in relation to excavations, outreach, events, exhibitions and research, these can be developed into innovations. This approach is called “Innovation by Production”.
The second innovation portfolio was about Fashion & Textile Transformation. In multicircular, sustainable manufacturing and design, digitization is key. This means creating, bit by bit, a process in which each stage of a product's lifecycle evolves towards circularity, from design to production, use and waste. The process is multicircular, which means that it is not one circle but many: reuse “on demand”, reuse and recycling.
The third and final innovation portfolio was Personalized Digital Live Experiences. The purpose of the portfolio is to amplify, deepen and extend the live experience through digital means such as artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. This must be done on the basis of an ethical framework that protects artistic work and the rights of cultural workers.
The work done by the groups during the day brought some common conclusions and a summary of some key challenges.
*The rapid development of AI is driving the transformation of existing areas of innovation. Like most profound changes with unknown results, AI often creates tension, distrust, fear and worry about the future. The transformation entails using AI not only as a tool, but also as a natural part of creation processes.
*There is a shortage of AI skills, both for existing professionals in the cultural and creative sectors and for the emergence of new professions. This requires training, research, retraining and more teachers with knowledge in AI.
*Furthermore, there is a great need to highlight the ethical aspects of working with AI, both in terms of standards and frameworks but also in AI education and training.
*There are few grants, funding or support programmes for innovation targeting the cultural and creative sector, including its institutions, SMEs and NGOs. When it comes to innovation in AI and KKN, there is a lack of funding. Funding for innovation in artificial intelligence is seen as focused on technological development and not linked to the cultural and creative sectors and industries. When the local innovation support system is analyzed from an AI perspective, the group saw that it is focused on supporting specialization and specific AI application. The support system emphasizes the importance of TRL (Technical Maturity Scale with Levels 1—9) and Intellectual Property. It also identified a need for funding for ethical and purpose driven innovation with AI, not just product or technology development. Strategies and innovation frameworks include ethical considerations for AI, but specific funding to create ethical structures and build skills was called for.
Together, the participants came up with some recommendations (or building blocks) for the development of the local innovation support system:
1. Establish an artificial intelligence ethics ombudsman responsible for ethical investigations and act as a neutral voice. This would help reduce fears and promote inclusion.
2. Include ethical AI use in local procurement policies.
3. Develop existing teachers and professors in KKN fields with AI skills and create courses to train new AI teachers.
4th. Promote cross-sectoral partnerships in innovation between public and private actors and NGOs to leverage different expertise and resources.
5. Establish Cascade funding for cross-sector pilot projects to test AI strategies, application and use. Learning can be done by doing in a loop of iterations in sharp environments.
6. Establish funding and resources for existing organizations to adapt and innovate in AI and to participate in innovation and development programs.
7. Establish or open up existing innovation infrastructures, test beds and playgrounds for AI use and make the innovation system accessible to the cultural and creative sectors and industries.
The next workshop — Cross-sectoral innovation with performing arts — will be held on 5 June.
team has been running since June 2023 and is funded by the European Commission.