Artificial intelligence continues to make its way into the main stream in all sectors. The arts are no exception. Over the past few years, a wave of organizations began experimenting with artificial intelligence as a method to enhance the audience experience. While AI and the arts are an ongoing experiment, it is worthwhile to do a scan of the field to identify emerging best practices and potential pathways for innovative organizations to try. My full report scans both the museum and performing arts to identify current practices but focuses on the opportunities available to the performing arts, specifically.

It is clear that artificial intelligence will continue to find its place in the arts. Using AI to build connections with audiences, in particular, is an interesting and developing sector of arts and technology. Museums are leading the way in discovering the intersection between arts and audience engagement strategies with projects like the Met and Iris+. The performing arts, while having developed AI for the creation and expression of art, are not yet at the forefront of AI for engagement. In fact, the industry is primed for a technology jumpstart and a reassessment of audience engagement tactics. Organizations should take time to actively consider whether or not artificial intelligence as a tool for engagement is right for them. Artificial Intelligence has the capability to be an extension of the human and engage audiences in a new way that provides a new experience. Now, more than ever, the opportunities for the integration of artificial intelligence and audience engagement in the performing arts are ripe for exploration.