Winter. It’s cold! Our program this week focused on various elements related to the world of art and Artificial Intelligence (AI). It started by discussing the big changes AI is bringing to various sectors including work, education, and even creative arts. We talked about the potential that AI holds for creativity, innovation, and research.
Since May of 2024 our program has been involved with the OpenAI Researcher Access Program. It promotes interesting methods to understand the capabilities of AI. We’ve been looking at the ways AI is used for data visualization and how to help create online educational content.
Each season, we collect up and make our own curriculum. This time, we’re learning about graphics and data, but also how to use AI. This course merges art, data and technology which allows participants to gain hands-on experience and pushes their boundaries of understanding and utilizing technology.
During the second week of our 2025 winter program, we focused on understanding the importance of the process in every project. We learned that sometimes projects can be unpredictable and might not line up with our original plans. But process plays a huge role in achieving creative breakthroughs. We also talked about how unexpected outcomes are normal and necessary. We talked about the need for our projects to allow enough time and space for development, as we often grow in ways we didn’t think about at first. This is a big part of the residency program we’re designing for this summer.
One of the bigger things we’re going to do this summer, is explore how we can support more artists and arts administrators by setting up governance structures, organizational development, and resources for the long term. That’s where the OpenAI Researcher Access Program has extended substantial support. It’s giving us tools we didn’t have before that are making us able to work faster, better and not harder.
We also talked about biomimicry. That’s something we started to learn about in 2023-2024 with MCAD students. Biomimicry is a problem-solving method that uses nature as a model for designing sustainable solutions. It involves studying natural forms, processes, and systems to inform areas like engineering, architecture, product design, and business strategies. The core question in biomimicry is “What would nature do?”
Nature has evolved over billions of years, creating efficient and adaptable systems. Observing how organisms and ecosystems operate allows us to apply these principles to our own innovations.
Next week we’re going to look more again at gamification in the context of arts. That’s something we studied last summer too, and had a lot of fun with. Gamification refers to the application of game design elements such as challenges, rewards, and progression, into non-game contexts. This approach can transform the way people create and interact with creative projects. We want to explore how using game elements, artists can make their work more engaging and significant to audiences.
What We’ve Learned so far
Integrating the themes of data and technology into arts internship and mentorship programming can elevate the creative experience while equipping us with essential skills for the modern workplace. For instance, the “Arts, Data, and Immersive Storytelling” course can serve as a model for how interns can engage with AI tools to create innovative art pieces. Merging artistic practices with data visualization and storytelling techniques, interns can learn to convey complex narratives through interactive installations or digital media. This not only enhances their artistic repertoire but also prepares them to navigate the increasingly digital and data-driven world.
Moreover, mentorship programs can incorporate activities that encourage experimentation with AI in artistic practice. For instance, mentors could guide interns in utilizing AI software to explore generative art or automated content creation. Workshops that demonstrate how to leverage AI in online course creation can further inspire interns to develop their own instructional content. This can empower them to share their artistic visions and processes in accessible ways while fostering a community of learning. Integrating these concepts allows for a rich and versatile program that celebrates the intersection of art and technology, ensuring that emerging artists are prepared for future challenges and opportunities within the evolving arts landscape.