Authenticity Unmasked: Unveiling AI-Driven Realities Through Art
Open Call for Artist Commissions
Still image from The Nth Wave by Theodore Koterwas.
We are looking for artists to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies impact perceptions and values of authenticity. We will commission three artworks that engage with this theme in the context of cultural content, political communication, and personal experience. These artworks will be presented in a public exhibit in Edinburgh in August 2025.
29th December 2024 17:00 GMT - Submission deadline.
24th January 2025 - Announcement of selected artists.
7th July 2025 - Finalised projects deadline.
24th January 2025 - Announcement of selected artists.
7th July 2025 - Finalised projects deadline.
Background
In recent years, AI-generated content has proliferated. In 2023, many of us have been fooled by the fake image of Pope Francis wearing a puffer coat, casually assuming that that would be the kind of jacket that an unconventional spiritual leader like him might wear. In December 2023, an AI-manipulated video of Moldova’s pro-Western president endorsing a Russian-friendly party was circulated, sowing doubt about her allegiances. And AI can also play with our own memories, with the release of editing tools that can change the context of images, or even create images of a past that never existed. This is the case for the Synthetic Memories project which aims at reconstructing visual experiences from the past that have faded or that have been forgotten over time. In these and analogue cases, the proliferation of AI-powered tools forces users to face the challenges related to the authenticity and history of digital content.
The commissioned artworks should engage the public in understanding the complexities of authenticity in a digital age, helping to answer questions such as: "When does the audience care if content is authentic?", "What aspects of different types of digitally-generated content influence perceptions of authenticity most?", and "How should digital content be presented to engender user trust?".
This Commission programme is led by CREA-TEC (“Cultivating Responsible Engagement with AI Technology to Empower Creatives”), a research project at the University of Edinburgh conducted in collaboration with Adobe and the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), co-founded by Adobe in 2019 to enhance transparency and access to the provenance history of digital media. The outcome of the commission and exhibit will be twofold: 1) informing old and creating new approaches for digital transparency and 2) increasing the audience’s awareness around content provenance and authenticity—and AI in general.
The commissioned artworks should engage the public in understanding the complexities of authenticity in a digital age, helping to answer questions such as: "When does the audience care if content is authentic?", "What aspects of different types of digitally-generated content influence perceptions of authenticity most?", and "How should digital content be presented to engender user trust?".
This Commission programme is led by CREA-TEC (“Cultivating Responsible Engagement with AI Technology to Empower Creatives”), a research project at the University of Edinburgh conducted in collaboration with Adobe and the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), co-founded by Adobe in 2019 to enhance transparency and access to the provenance history of digital media. The outcome of the commission and exhibit will be twofold: 1) informing old and creating new approaches for digital transparency and 2) increasing the audience’s awareness around content provenance and authenticity—and AI in general.
Eligibility
We are looking for UK-based artists at all stages of their career.
Artists must not be enrolled in formal undergraduate studies. Those on PGR/PGT/PhD programmes are eligible to apply but only if they are also registered as freelance practitioners and can clearly demonstrate capacity to undertake the commission alongside study commitments.
Only artists with proof of right to work in the UK are eligible to apply.
Collaborative proposals are welcome but the £5,000.00 fund will have to be distributed amongst the team. For artist groups, a lead artist will be required to submit the application form on behalf of the group and take on responsibility for the commission and budgetary matters.
We would especially encourage artists from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.
We are looking for genuine collaborations between research and creative practice. The commissioned artists will be invited to participate in meetings and workshops with researchers to share ideas and perspectives. Artists will be invited to co-design methods for collecting data from exhibit visitors to gauge their engagement with authenticity in AI-generated content.
Artists must not be enrolled in formal undergraduate studies. Those on PGR/PGT/PhD programmes are eligible to apply but only if they are also registered as freelance practitioners and can clearly demonstrate capacity to undertake the commission alongside study commitments.
Only artists with proof of right to work in the UK are eligible to apply.
Collaborative proposals are welcome but the £5,000.00 fund will have to be distributed amongst the team. For artist groups, a lead artist will be required to submit the application form on behalf of the group and take on responsibility for the commission and budgetary matters.
We would especially encourage artists from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.
We are looking for genuine collaborations between research and creative practice. The commissioned artists will be invited to participate in meetings and workshops with researchers to share ideas and perspectives. Artists will be invited to co-design methods for collecting data from exhibit visitors to gauge their engagement with authenticity in AI-generated content.
What we offer
Each selected artist will receive a total of £5,000.00, inclusive of all costs, including artist fees, expenses, production, etc. Artists are expected to manage their production budget independently.
There is support available to cover limited travel and accommodation to support the artists when it comes to installing the artwork and attending the exhibition opening.
Artists will have opportunities to engage with the CREA-TEC team and network to develop their ideas and foster knowledge exchange and co-learning.
Access to curatorial, production, and technical support will be discussed at the beginning of the commission. Access to some equipment may be arranged through University lending services pending availability.
There is support available to cover limited travel and accommodation to support the artists when it comes to installing the artwork and attending the exhibition opening.
Artists will have opportunities to engage with the CREA-TEC team and network to develop their ideas and foster knowledge exchange and co-learning.
Access to curatorial, production, and technical support will be discussed at the beginning of the commission. Access to some equipment may be arranged through University lending services pending availability.
Deliverables
The recipients of the commission must commit to:
The final artwork should:
Artworks will be presented at a public exhibit in Edinburgh which will run in August 2025. We are aligning the exhibit with the schedule for the Edinburgh Arts Festival 2025 but please note this is not guaranteed.
- Producing a new artwork or if it is the development of an old idea they will need to explain what makes this different and how it will challenge or change their practice.
- Engaging with the CREA-TEC team and researchers when developing the artwork.
- Participating in discussions and collaborating with researchers during two half-day workshops in March and May 2025 (dates TBC).
- Exhibiting the artwork in August 2025.
- Contributing to documentation by the CREA-TEC team (e.g. photography, video, other research data).
The final artwork should:
- Be in a digital or mixed-media format.
- Address the commission theme, helping the audience engage with complexities of content authenticity in the context of cultural content, political communication, and personal experience.
Artworks will be presented at a public exhibit in Edinburgh which will run in August 2025. We are aligning the exhibit with the schedule for the Edinburgh Arts Festival 2025 but please note this is not guaranteed.
Submission process
Applicants must submit their application along with a portfolio, as detailed below.
Please send your portfolio in an email to [email protected] with the subject line: CREA-TEC commission 2025.
Deadline: 29th December, 17:00 GMT. We are unable to accept late submissions.
We acknowledge that written application forms don't work for everyone. If you have any questions or difficulties with the application process, would like to receive this information in a different format, or if you wish to discuss applying in an alternative way, please contact us at [email protected].
The panel will select artists on the basis of their eligibility and the individual quality of their proposals, as well as with a view to forming a cohesive group exhibition. The panel will base their decision on submitted material only. It is important that the material submitted is of a quality that best demonstrates your vision.
- An application form (link, opens in a new window).
- A portfolio as a single PDF file (as a single PDF 5MB max.) that includes:
- CV (2-sided A4 page max.)
- Details of 2 previous artworks, including images (max. 3) and text descriptions (max. 100 words) for each work. For moving-image or sound work please include text descriptions (as above) and provide links to YouTube, Vimeo or SoundCloud (6 minutes max. overall).
- Applicants are also invited to fill out an equality monitoring form (link, opens in a new window).
Please send your portfolio in an email to [email protected] with the subject line: CREA-TEC commission 2025.
Deadline: 29th December, 17:00 GMT. We are unable to accept late submissions.
We acknowledge that written application forms don't work for everyone. If you have any questions or difficulties with the application process, would like to receive this information in a different format, or if you wish to discuss applying in an alternative way, please contact us at [email protected].
The panel will select artists on the basis of their eligibility and the individual quality of their proposals, as well as with a view to forming a cohesive group exhibition. The panel will base their decision on submitted material only. It is important that the material submitted is of a quality that best demonstrates your vision.
About the research project
CREA-TEC (“Cultivating Responsible Engagement with AI Technology to Empower Creatives”) is a project led by the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with Adobe, aimed at promoting the responsible integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence tools in creative practices, contributing to an understanding of who is empowered by these new forms of creativity and who, instead, needs to be protected.
It is supported by the Bridging Responsible AI Divides programme with funds received from the Arts and Humanities Research Council [grant number AH/X007146/1].
CREA-TEC (“Cultivating Responsible Engagement with AI Technology to Empower Creatives”) is a project led by the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with Adobe, aimed at promoting the responsible integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence tools in creative practices, contributing to an understanding of who is empowered by these new forms of creativity and who, instead, needs to be protected.
It is supported by the Bridging Responsible AI Divides programme with funds received from the Arts and Humanities Research Council [grant number AH/X007146/1].
