Public Policy, creative industries
Ian Hawthorne
Frameworks for Understanding Cultural Policy: ...

This article analyzes Ireland’s emerging position as a global cultural policy case study, focusing on the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) program and its place within the national framework Culture 2025. While Ireland’s consensus-driven political system, strong arts advocacy networks, and history of support for artist income have enabled an ambitious, research-oriented basic income pilot, the article highlights deeper tensions within cultural policymaking. Drawing on Stephen Hadley’s concept of “cultural policy realism,” it argues that Ireland’s policies—despite their novelty—remain rooted in traditional, instrumentalist views of culture as an economic engine and national branding tool. By contrasting democratization of culture with cultural democracy, the piece situates Ireland’s model between innovation and reversion, emphasizing the need for sustained experimentation, critical evaluation, and more genuinely democratic approaches to cultural support.

Frameworks for Understanding Cultural Policy: Lessons from the Irish Model
Gamification, Research, Artificial Intelligence
Staff Researcher
Part II - The Role of AI in Evolving Game ...

This study advances Part II by translating Scopely’s strategy into an execution plan across three tracks - NPC innovation, intelligent monetization, and ethical LiveOps - supported by new evidence from a 1,159-response consumer survey, nine expert interviews (developers, influencers, and experiential professionals), and secondary industry research. Part I established the market context for AI’s disruptive potential and identified three priorities: live operations evolution, commerce optimization, and advanced player analytics. The goal of this phase is to pinpoint the highest-leverage AI applications that deepen gameplay engagement, convert payment resistance through demonstrated value, and safeguard community trust. Accordingly, Part II outlines actionable playbooks (context-aware NPCs and adaptive narratives), platform tactics (purchase-aligned mobile personalization and cross-play integration), and operational models (behavior-based matchmaking and transparency protocols) designed to drive scalable, technology-led growth while preserving the integrity of shared human play.

Part II - The Role of AI in Evolving Game Ecosystems and Player Dynamics
Artificial Intelligence, entertainment, Research
Staff Researcher
Part I - Beyond the Screen: The Role of AI in ...

This study provides a comprehensive analysis for Scopely to enhance its position as a leader in interactive and mobile gaming, focusing on AI integration in live operations, in-game commerce, and player analytics. The research reveals the urgent need for gaming companies to navigate accelerated AI adoption and evolving player expectations for personalized experiences. The goal is to identify the most impactful AI applications over the next three years and strategies that maximize engagement and monetization while maintaining player trust. Significant to this goal is balancing innovation with ethical considerations, including data privacy and transparency, while recognizing AI's potential to enhance storytelling and create immersive experiences. Employing a mixed-methods approach with industry interviews, a survey of over 1,000 U.S. gamers, and secondary research, Part I establishes the foundation for understanding AI's transformative impact - setting the stage for Part II's empirical findings and strategic recommendations.

Part I - Beyond the Screen: The Role of AI in Evolving Game Ecosystems and Player Dynamics
News & Announcements, museums
Hales Wilson
Byte-Sized Culture: The Art of Stealing

A daylight robbery at the Musée du Louvre in mid-October resulted in the theft of eight priceless pieces from the French Crown Jewels housed in the Galerie d’Apollon. The incident now serves as an in-depth analysis for arts leaders globally to confront not only external threats, like highly organized professional thieves, but also the complex, internal risk of compromised staff and the urgent need to re-evaluate their security posture, technological investment, and institutional accountability.

Byte-Sized Culture: The Art of Stealing
entertainment, Extended Reality, Digital Futures
Staff Researcher
The Use of Immersive Technology in Live Music: ...

As immersive technologies redefine the live concert experience, artists and virtual idols alike are transforming how audiences engage with music. From Hatsune Miku’s “holographic” performances powered by projection and LED technologies to VR concerts by creators like BlackGryph0n and Gorillaz, extended reality (XR) is blurring the lines between physical and digital performance. This article explores the evolution of Vocaloid software, the artistry behind digital concerts, and the growing influence of augmented and virtual reality in live music. As AR and VR become more accessible, musicians and fans alike are discovering new ways to connect—reshaping what it means to perform, attend, and experience music in the digital age.

The Use of Immersive Technology in Live Music: Vocaloid, Digital Concerts and XR Implementation

AI

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Part I - Beyond the Screen: The Role of AI in Evolving Game Ecosystems and Player Dynamics

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Part I - Beyond the Screen: The Role of AI in Evolving Game Ecosystems and Player Dynamics

This study provides a comprehensive analysis for Scopely to enhance its position as a leader in interactive and mobile gaming, focusing on AI integration in live operations, in-game commerce, and player analytics. The research reveals the urgent need for gaming companies to navigate accelerated AI adoption and evolving player expectations for personalized experiences. The goal is to identify the most impactful AI applications over the next three years and strategies that maximize engagement and monetization while maintaining player trust. Significant to this goal is balancing innovation with ethical considerations, including data privacy and transparency, while recognizing AI's potential to enhance storytelling and create immersive experiences. Employing a mixed-methods approach with industry interviews, a survey of over 1,000 U.S. gamers, and secondary research, Part I establishes the foundation for understanding AI's transformative impact - setting the stage for Part II's empirical findings and strategic recommendations.

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Byte-Sized Culture: The Business of Art in the Digital Age

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Byte-Sized Culture: The Business of Art in the Digital Age

The digital art world is long past being just a new creative medium; it has evolved into a complex economic arena. What was once a niche field is now a battleground for artists, developers, and institutions grappling with new questions of ownership, value, and creative rights. This evolving landscape is driven by emerging technologies, including AI and blockchain, which are not only reshaping how art is made but also challenging the very foundations of traditional art markets and the way artists earn a living.

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AI in Traditional Music Preservation: Lessons from the Konghou (Chinese Harp)

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AI in Traditional Music Preservation: Lessons from the Konghou (Chinese Harp)

This article investigates how artificial intelligence aids in the preservation of traditional music, using the Chinese Harp (Konghou) as a key example. It explores the technology's opportunities and challenges through an examination of existing models like Folk RNN for Irish music and MusicMamba for Chinese traditional music

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AI-Driven Dubbing: A New Frontier for Voices in the Audiovisual Industry

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AI-Driven Dubbing: A New Frontier for Voices in the Audiovisual Industry

What is the world if not a collection of stories? And, what is a globalized world without the capacity to share those stories across cultures, borders, and languages? Dubbing has long served as a bridge between screens and diverse audiences. However, as with every technological shift, we now find ourselves entering a new era: artificial intelligence. What challenges does this emerging paradigm present to the entertainment industry with regards to dubbing?

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Advertising Monopolies, AI Policy, and Pirating Issues

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Advertising Monopolies, AI Policy, and Pirating Issues

This spring, we saw major movements in the legal landscape of digital advertising. Between Google being ruled as an advertising monopolist and Mark Zuckerberg’s war on creative materials, digital advertising is gearing up for change. Read on for more information, including pirating issues, new ambitions for VR movies, and increased access to AI image generation.

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Models for Guaranteed Income, Resource-Sharing, and Pension Programs: Saving the Starving Artist & Cultural Sector

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Models for Guaranteed Income, Resource-Sharing, and Pension Programs: Saving the Starving Artist & Cultural Sector

As technology reshapes employment, artists face particular financial challenges, earning 30% less than their peers while lacking traditional benefits. This article examines how cities and organizations are testing new solutions—from guaranteed income programs to innovative pension schemes—to provide artists with greater economic stability.

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AI Integration and Barriers in Education

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AI Integration and Barriers in Education

Educators are grappling with the challenge of integrating AI into classrooms, fearing that these systems might replace traditional learning methods rather than enhance them.  This brings us to the question: what barriers prevent educators from implementing artificial intelligence into their curriculum, and how can they be addressed? 

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Your 2024 Favorite Reads

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Your 2024 Favorite Reads

It is always fun to take a moment as we close out a year to compare our favorite content to the popularity contest of the web. AI, Sustainability, and Preservation with technology led the charge. Keep reading for the most popular articles and podcasts.

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Artificial Intelligence’s Involvement in the Human Creative Process

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Artificial Intelligence’s Involvement in the Human Creative Process

As AI continues to integrate into our everyday lives, how does it impact our creativity? Many researchers and scholars agree that the technology may promote significant opportunities in this space. By introducing novel ideas and opportunities to users, it may be most effective as a tool to augment, rather than replace, human creativity.

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November News: Tech Innovations in Arts and Culture Markets

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November News: Tech Innovations in Arts and Culture Markets

Major breakthroughs in the markets for art, books, and fashion arrive perfectly timed for the holiday season. Tech innovations demonstrate their ability to reshape markets and incentivize commerce across digital economies. From fine art to rare fashion finds, tech is redefining how we navigate digital art and cultural commerce. Read on to learn how you might make your next purchase with the help of artificial intelligence or the blockchain. 

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Future of Museums Summit 2024 Key Takeaways

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Future of Museums Summit 2024 Key Takeaways

Sustainability and AI were at the forefront this year at the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Future of Museums Summit. What role will museums play in creating climate-friendly communities? And how can AI be used to maximize efficiency, increase accessibility, and deepen engagement? Read key conference takeaways from Xueer Ho and Dr. Brett Ashley Crawford.

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Envisioning the Future of Museum Accessibility Through Artificial Intelligence

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Envisioning the Future of Museum Accessibility Through Artificial Intelligence

With AI’s ability to automatically produce content and process complicated datasets with high accuracy, museums worldwide are exploring ways in which this innovative technology can help them better achieve their missions and advance accessibility efforts. Through case studies, learn about three applications of this technology: content digitalization, language accessibility, and visual description.

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Part I: A New Era of AI in the Entertainment Industry

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Part I: A New Era of AI in the Entertainment Industry

As exemplified by the Hollywood strikes of 2023, we find ourselves in a new era of Artificial  Intelligence in film and television. While studios are looking to cut costs, performers seek job security, and consumers seek quality content. Through research conducted in collaboration with facial motion capture technology provider Faceware Technologies Inc., Master of Entertainment Industry Management students at Carnegie Mellon sought to gain insight on how AI-generated content will transform existing industries, including how this technology could affect employment in the entertainment industry, content development,  budgets, contracts, legislation, and privacy rights.

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August News: From Games and Museums to Consumer Protection Policies

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August News: From Games and Museums to Consumer Protection Policies

Did you catch this month’s headlines in tech and the arts?  Advancements in technology make new opportunities for creators and consumers alike. Policy to support transparency in device repair and use of AI may help users make informed decisions. Meanwhile, a landmark Google antitrust ruling supports competition in the search engine market.

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July News: Arts Leaders Face Big Questions on AI and Privacy

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July News: Arts Leaders Face Big Questions on AI and Privacy

How can AI and blockchain play a functional role in arts and cultural organizations? At Christie’s 8th Annual Art + Tech Summit, top arts leaders gathered to address this question and more. While companies race to integrate the latest technology, uses may not align with consumer demand or practical need. With eyes on the creative industry’s next steps, companies must consider ethics of the AI tools they implement. For Disney, this resulted in a “hacktivist” cyber attack, leaking more than 1 TB of company data in protest of AI artwork policies. Meanwhile, individuals must take more responsibility in protecting their own data privacy as Google Chrome once again takes back promise to eliminate third-party cookies. Read more about this month’s news below.

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Survey Results: Audiences and Generative AI and the Comic Book Industry

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Survey Results: Audiences and Generative AI and the Comic Book Industry

Studies focused on the “artistic” aspects of generative AI reveal negative bias, and a preference for human creations. None of these studies, however, account for the multimodality of comic books: text and image. Is a human-written story a mitigating factor for readers? Is it feasible for writers to become “AI comic book artists" or will consumers drive AI imagery out of the market altogether? Given the multitude of information making it difficult to discern how comic book consumers perceive AI imagery, the following provides first-person research by generating an AI comic and conducting a survey on unsuspecting comic book customers. 

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May News: AI, Misinformation, and Cybersecurity

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May News: AI, Misinformation, and Cybersecurity

Once again, AI continues to be front of mind this month. While companies expand AI functionality, artists call for protection of their likeness, and consumers call for accurate information. Meanwhile, cyberattacks evolve, and arts enterprises with high profile clients are challenged to respond. Looking at organizational workflow, popular tools like Canva are expanding to become a “one-stop shop” for design needs.

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April News: Entertainment Industry Divided on AI Tools

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April News: Entertainment Industry Divided on AI Tools

This month, music and film are at the forefront as each battles with the future uses for burgeoning tech. While AI-generated film visuals seem to be coming up short, progress toward realistic AI-generated music is starting to send shockwaves. On the consumer side, music streaming tools are being released to allow more listening experience customization. Across the industry, artists are celebrating ways that some these new tools can enhance their work, while speaking out against potential impacts on jobs, compensation, and creative freedom.

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Museum Computer Network 2023 Conference Takeaways

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Museum Computer Network 2023 Conference Takeaways

Staff Researcher, Venetia Liao, attended the 2023 Museum Computer Network Conference (MCN), and wrote about her four key takeaways: (1) Audience Engagement & Visitor Experience In Apps, Websites, Research, and Design, (2) AI, VR/XR/AR Usage & Concerns, (3) Data & Database Management For Collections Management & Marketing Strategy, and (4) Cybersecurity.

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AI and Virtual Production: The Past Meets the Future

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AI and Virtual Production: The Past Meets the Future

Technology has played a critical role in the film industry since its inception. Advances in the film industry are always closely related to technological advances in society, integrating them quickly into the filmmaking process. Almost every aspect of filmmaking, from pre-production to post-production, from digital cameras, editing software, sound and music, distribution, exhibition, and of course, special effects, has undergone major changes and has evolved over the last 190 years. 

Contemporary, traditional film production involves building physical sets, scouting locations, and coordinating large crews and equipment, all of which can be time-consuming and expensive. To overcome some of these "problems" or “needs” was born what we know today as Virtual Production. Virtual production has and will be further enhanced by the opportunities afforded by artificial intelligence.