Learn how our summer research project combines WordPress, React, and AI to support digital arts and community innovation.

One of our summer projects this year explores a simple but increasingly important question: can small arts organizations use artificial intelligence to build better digital experiences?

For many community groups, artists, and non-profit organizations, websites remain the primary way people discover programs, events, exhibitions, and local initiatives. WordPress continues to power a significant portion of the web because it is flexible, affordable, and easy to manage. At the same time, modern web technologies such as React are making it possible to create websites that feel more interactive, responsive, and engaging.

Until recently, combining these tools often required a specialized development team. Artificial intelligence is beginning to change that landscape.

Exploring AI-Assisted Web Development

This project focuses on emerging workflows that bring together WordPress, React, and AI-assisted development tools.

Rather than replacing developers or creative professionals, AI can help accelerate routine tasks, generate prototypes, identify coding errors, and support experimentation. Work that once required days of technical setup can often be explored in a single afternoon.

That shift creates new opportunities for artists, cultural organizations, libraries, community groups, and grassroots initiatives interested in strengthening their digital presence.

Why WordPress and React?

WordPress remains one of the world’s most widely used content management systems. Many organizations already rely on it to publish news, manage events, share stories, and maintain digital archives.

React offers a different set of advantages. It allows developers to create fast, interactive interfaces that behave more like applications than traditional websites.

When these technologies are combined, organizations can continue using familiar WordPress publishing tools while creating richer experiences for visitors. Digital heritage projects, community storytelling platforms, artist portfolios, interactive maps, learning resources, and cultural archives can all benefit from this approach.

Supporting Arts, Culture, and Community Innovation

Our interest in this work extends beyond technology.

We’re exploring how these tools might support community-based arts projects, digital heritage initiatives, creative entrepreneurship, youth engagement, and cultural storytelling. Many organizations have compelling ideas but limited technical resources. AI-assisted development may help reduce some of those barriers while making experimentation more accessible.

The project also reflects broader changes taking place across the creative sector as artists and organizations begin integrating artificial intelligence into research, design, communication, and digital production workflows.

Learning Through Experimentation

Like many of our projects, this initiative is intentionally exploratory and experimental.

Some ideas will succeed. Others will lead to unexpected questions. New tools will emerge. Existing approaches will evolve. The value comes from testing possibilities, sharing knowledge, and understanding what works in real-world community settings.

Throughout the summer, we’ll be building prototypes, exploring new workflows, documenting lessons learned, and considering how AI-powered web development might help strengthen the digital capacity of arts and cultural organizations.

Most importantly, we’re having fun with it. The project creates space to learn, experiment, and imagine new ways of connecting people, stories, and communities online. That’s often where the most interesting work begins.