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

Artificial Intelligence

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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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Generative AI Text-to-Image: Artist, Audience and the Comic Book Industry

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Generative AI Text-to-Image: Artist, Audience and the Comic Book Industry

As little as ten years ago, the capabilities of image generators were mere fantasy. Now, images can be made in seconds or minutes and children’s books can be generated in an hour, but how will this impact an industry where the art is at the forefront of consumers' minds? Comics, whether they be digital or print, have been heavily dependent on individual or small groups of artists to weave together stories. The ease of using AI to replicate that work may not be simple.

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June News: Artists Take a Stand on AI

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June News: Artists Take a Stand on AI

This month, it’s hard to find a headline that doesn’t mention “AI.” For artists and arts managers, it can now be integrated in every aspect of our work - from creation, to promotion, and general administration. Even your iPhone may soon have AI features integrating messages, calendar, photos, and other personal content. In both music and visual spaces, artists are finding ways to push back on unethical use – while some take legal action, others call for change through the spaces they share their work.

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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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What Are Museum Professionals Saying About Generative AI for Marketing?

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What Are Museum Professionals Saying About Generative AI for Marketing?

The use of generative AI (GenAI) tools is becoming increasingly prevalent in marketing, particularly for smaller organizations or nonprofits seeking innovative ways to engage audiences and improve workflow efficiency. This article dives into data collected through a survey that was sent out to museum professionals in Pittsburgh and Cleveland to better understand how and if they are utilizing generative AI tools in their marketing strategies.

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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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How Generative AI is Impacting Digital Marketing

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How Generative AI is Impacting Digital Marketing

Generative AI (GenAI) has become increasingly integrated into marketing and communication careers, and even our daily lives, with the rise of various text-to-image, text-to-video, & text-to-text tools. As digital marketers find new and innovative ways to keep up with the trends, and specifically GenZ in a quick-changing popular culture scene, how are they reacting to the rise of GenAI?

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Digital Strategy: Not Optional Anymore

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Digital Strategy: Not Optional Anymore

Digital strategy has become a buzzword after the explosion of AI in the last 18 months. Yet, it is not about AI. AI has been the tipping point for organizations and professionals to recognize that they must update or create a digital strategy for success. Digitally-forward arts organizations already have a digital component as part of their strategic plan. Read more to understand the need for technology to be a core component of strategic plans and operations.

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An Exploration of VR Success Factors in the Museum Field

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An Exploration of VR Success Factors in the Museum Field

VR exhibitions have been on the rise for the past decade and are a continuous hot topic. Many metrics can be measured and leveraged when it comes to the evaluation of a museum’s exhibition. However, when it comes to leveraging a VR exhibition in a physical museum, what metrics are currently being assessed and valued in the museum field? What are the factors that make or break a VR exhibition? These are the questions that this article aims to address and explore.

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VR and the Evolving Role of Curators and Museum Professionals

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VR and the Evolving Role of Curators and Museum Professionals

In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as an engaging tool for museums, offering visitors immersive and interactive experiences that go beyond traditional exhibits. However, while VR promises enriched engagement, museum professionals still face multifaceted challenges. So far, most of the research conducted has focused on how museums utilize VR to attract more visitors and, as a result, raise their revenue. But VR is not only about that. Museum professionals and curators face multiple challenges that include integrating technology, curating content, and maintaining the authenticity and educational value of exhibits while meeting the demands of modern-day audiences. 

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AI and Art Auctions

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AI and Art Auctions

Although art auctioning is a long-established and time-honoring form of trading, the method and fashion of art auctioning are also challenged and transformed to reflect the needs and trends of each era. In this technology-driven era, specifically in the age of AI, in which all fields of profession and markets are being affected,  the world of art auctions is also being transformed at a rapid speed.  

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February News: AI Watermarking, Text-to-Video, Licensing, and Social Media as News

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February News: AI Watermarking, Text-to-Video, Licensing, and Social Media as News

February’s news continues to focus on AI with 3 key stories:  OpenAI’s watermark for Dall-E, Sora’s release, and Reddit’s controversial AI licensing deal (with a side note to their plan to go public as a company). Data has also emerged to reveal Facebook’s loss of domination in the news space as Gen Z through Gen X are turning to Instagram and TikTok.  

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Chasing Waterfalls: An Early Case Where AI Writes and Performs in an Opera

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Chasing Waterfalls: An Early Case Where AI Writes and Performs in an Opera

The following case study analyzes an opera, Chasing Waterfalls. The opera, which premiered in Dresden, Germany on September 3, 2022, challenged traditional opera expectations by bringing a different way to integrate technology into the opera space. Chasing Waterfalls utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to write, compose, and perform its own aria live within the show.

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January News: Ethics, Entertainment, & Sustainability

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January News: Ethics, Entertainment, & Sustainability

Emerging tech is growing in leaps and bounds in the first month of 2024, with headline advances in AI, cryptocurrency, and VR. Conversation around AI ethics continues, and young advocates take the lead in promoting a positive AI future. Meanwhile, Apple Vision Pro launches for pre-sale, partnering with entertainment leaders like Amazon Prime and Disney+ to spark demand for the product. For those interested in cryptocurrency and blockchain, the SEC approved bitcoin ETFs, and more than $4 billion was exchanged on the first day of trading. Additionally, privacy concerns push Google Chrome to phase out third-party cookies by the end of 2024, though advertisers worry about Chrome's hold on the market. And, while blockchain is known for being less-than sustainable, Artists are considering the environmental impact of their work, and exploring regenerative materials in their practice - from fine art to set design. 

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How AI is Leading the Textile Industry to a New Lease on Life?

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How AI is Leading the Textile Industry to a New Lease on Life?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved from a concept in science fiction to an essential component of everyday life. With the AI software market expected to surpass well over $200 billion, its extensive impact is unmistakable. This article will delve into the deep relationship between AI and the textile industry, highlighting how AI is transforming this age-old craft in line with the sector’s rapid growth.

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In What Ways is AI Disrupting the Dance Industry?

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In What Ways is AI Disrupting the Dance Industry?

In the realm of dance, AI has revolutionized training, choreography, and performance. This article explores AI’s impact on the dance industry, and its potential to enhance accessibility, not only for dance but for performing arts at large.

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AI-Generated Images: Can We Even Trust Photography Anymore?

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AI-Generated Images: Can We Even Trust Photography Anymore?

The latest innovations in Generative AI raise some challenging questions: Are people able to distinguish between an AI-generated image and one captured with a camera? What impact will this have on their confidence in photography as a medium of visual storytelling?

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AI as a Support for Curatorial Practice in Museums

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AI as a Support for Curatorial Practice in Museums

The merging of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and human cognitive systems has catalyzed a profound digital transformation of our lifestyles and production methods. This shift is particularly noticeable in the art field, where the integration of AI has sparked innovative ideas and prompted new assessments of traditional practices. Art museums are investigating the potential of AI in collection management, improving visitor experiences, and ticketing attendance data. Of these, the field of art curation is one that is undergoing an evolution.

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Evolving Applications of AI and VR in Art Conservation, Preservation, and Reconstruction

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Evolving Applications of AI and VR in Art Conservation, Preservation, and Reconstruction

The field of art conservation has long been a community of highly specialized and skilled professionals, often whom have dedicated hundreds of hours to understanding meticulous processes and materials. They are entrusted by institutions and the public to preserve and protect pieces of culture and history- works which often occupy fragile and delicate states for the remainder of their existence. Many of these pieces have lived long periods of time, having witnessed conflict, cultural changes, and geopolitical events over the course of history.