Should you use AI in Arts Council England grant applications? Orgnisation says assessments will continue to carried out by its staff, but it may explore the technology to assign in processing tasks
Arts Council England (ACE) has today published new guidance on the use of AI during the application process, and its own position during the review of grant applications.
The organisation has today told potential grant applicants that while AI can be useful for drafting applications and organising reporting material, applicants and grantholders remain accountable for what they submit.
It said it remains important to use AI tools cautiously, considering potential risks around bias, transparency, data protection, and the moral and legal rights of creators.
It added in a statement: “While generative AI can be useful for drafting applications and organising reporting material, applicants and grantholders are accountable for what they submit. It is important to use AI tools cautiously, considering potential risks around bias, transparency, data protection, and the moral and legal rights of creators.”
ACE has also clarified that assessments will continue to be carried out by Arts Council staff, “who are experts in their field” and “not use AI technologies in carrying out the assessment, or decision-making on applications.”
It added though, that distinct from the operational processing of applications, it may begin using AI “to help us to carry out some processing tasks” such as checking and verifying information, and analysing and categorising data sets by, for example, location or demographics.
In a blog post on the Arts Council England, its director for new technologies and innovation Owen Hopkin, addressed the organisation’s Public Position Statement on the use of AI in Grant-Making Processes.
Hopkin said it “reaffirms a principle that is central to our work: that decisions about public funding will always be made by people, to make sure the process is fair, equitable and transparent.
“Assessment remains a human process, rooted in specialist judgement, experience and dialogue. As our work on AI progresses, we’ll endeavour to be as clear on other areas.”
