Human Artists To Be Prioritised For Future Commissions Following Scarborough AI Backlash

Local creatives will be prioritised for future public art commissions following a backlash over the use of artificial intelligence on a giant deckchair trail in Scarborough.

Human artists will be prioritised for future public art commissions following a backlash against artificial intelligence in Scarborough.

Dozens of creatives have expressed anger after computer-generated designs were used on a giant deckchair trail celebrating the town's four-hundredth anniversary.

The ten deckchairs are dotted across the seafront, heritage spots, and attractions as part of a walking trail, but the decision to use artificial intelligence has drawn widespread criticism.

Local councillor Rich Maw raised the issue, highlighting the concerns of artists who feel they are missing out on council commissions.

Councillor Rich Maw said:

"The giant deck chair trail has been welcomed by many, but been castigated by local artists for its controversy over its AI depictions.

Given the growing use of AI in creative industries, can the exec member commit to ensuring that future public art commissions prioritize human artists and actively support local creative talent rather than defaulting to AI-generated work, and ensure local creatives have meaningful opportunities to participate in future public arts and cultural commissions?"

North Yorkshire Council previously stated it commissioned the work from a county-based agency which used artificial intelligence alongside the skills of its team.

However, Scarborough-based artist Adrian Riley described the resulting designs as artificial intelligence slop.

Artist Adrian Riley said:

"We’re a tourism destination and an important part of that is people visiting for culture. You can get AI anywhere in the world, but you can only visit the workshops, galleries, exhibitions, and studios of many local artists by actually being here in Scarborough."

He added:

"If Scarborough is perceived as generic as everywhere else, what reason do people have to come here? Let’s emphasise the uniqueness of this town, including its creative community."

Hannah Grahamslaw, an artist and illustrator who produces Scarborough-themed artwork, noted that the deckchair project is exactly the sort of work she would have been paid to do six months ago.

Artist Hannah Grahamslaw said:

"But it’s not just [the impact] on own employment that offends me, my concerns are mainly that all AI ‘art’ is stolen from artwork created by real artists, it is is damaging to the environment, it takes jobs from artists, without whom North Yorkshire would be an extremely dull and grey place, and it is so ugly in terms of generic art style that it makes me feel a bit sick."

The Chair of Scarborough Studios CIO, Sally Gorham, also called the move particularly disappointing, noting the seaside resort is campaigning to be the UK’s inaugural Town of Culture.

Another resident, Alex Waller, said:

"The scenes aren’t even accurate as to what they’re supposed to show. They’re not made by an artist, they’re made by someone in an office with zero creativity of their own."

Executive member for Arts, Councillor Simon Myers, acknowledged the issues surrounding the technology and responded to the concerns.

Councillor Simon Myers said:

"I think all creatives in North Yorkshire will share concern about over-use of AI.

There were a particular set of circumstances in the very short commission of that deck chair trail in Scarborough, which has generally been very well-received, that resulted in that.

We have very close collaboration with the creative sector across North Yorkshire. We have a pan-discipline approach and we hope to give opportunities to everybody to work with us on whatever creative programs there are across North Yorkshire."

The council’s corporate director for community development, Nic Harne, previously defended the temporary installation.

Corporate director Nic Harne said:

"We continue to support local artists through a wide range of cultural programmes, events and initiatives across North Yorkshire. The deckchair trail is a temporary installation as part of the Scarborough 400 celebrations, and we will review its success once the programme has come to an end. However, the reaction so far suggests there may be an opportunity to develop a similar project in the future. If we do, we would welcome input from Scarborough’s artists and creative sector on how a more permanent trail could be developed."

Local artist Ms Grahamslaw suggested organisations should employ local artists in the future, as they know what Scarborough Castle looks like because they live there.

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