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Arts commissioners debate AI value statement; staff to revise draft and host summit
Summary
Commissioners spent substantial time May 27 reviewing a draft AI value statement, raising concerns about environmental disclosure, equitable use, and whether nonprofits should be required to disclose AI use; staff will revise the draft and present it for vote before a planned July 16 summit.
Commissioners and staff spent an extended portion of the May 27 meeting reviewing a draft artificial-intelligence (AI) value statement and discussing how the Arts Commission should guide local arts organizations on responsible AI use.
Staff framed the draft as a high-level values document intended to outlast rapid technological change and to provide guidance for grantmaking, public-art programs and staff decision-making. The commission discussed whether the draft’s recommendations — such as asking partners to disclose environmental impact and AI use — would be feasible or unintentionally burden small nonprofits.
Commissioner gaya urged pragmatism, noting that many nonprofits already use AI to save costs and that disclosure requirements should be narrowly focused: “If you want to have that sort of disclosure, maybe that’s fine... but then this other thing too, about AI's energy use and concern... technology changes so fast.” Staff agreed to rework language that could be interpreted as privileging organizations that receive liaison attention and to clarify when disclosure should be requested (for example, in decision-making contexts such as grant-panel scoring rather than routine communications).
Commissioner Jeffrey A. Kash and others urged clearer guidance on equity and bias, and asked the staff to avoid placing all accountability on individual users. Staff said they will consult IT and policy colleagues to refine technical wording, balance transparency with feasibility, and produce a shorter high-level value statement with supporting guidance documents.
The commission did not vote on the AI draft at the May meeting. Staff described two near-term events: an AI summit the commission is planning for July 16 at Kiln and an artist meetup in the fall focused on AI practices; staff said they will bring a revised draft back for a formal vote following additional edits and consultation.
Next steps: staff to revise the AI value statement, consult technical staff and community partners, and return to the commission with a revised draft ahead of the July summit.
