July 12, 2023 | Issue 76

AI Study: Can an artist and a social robot build a relationship over time?

Artist Stephanie Dinkins explores the potential for a long-term emotional relationship between herself and Bina48, a highly advanced social robot designed by the Terasem Movement Foundation that aims to possess independent thought and emotion. Their discussions touch on family, racism, faith, loneliness, and the boundaries of human consciousness, resulting in a mixture of entertainment, frustration, humor, and philosophical insights.

Is this topic exciting for you? You should attend the AI focused session at the Summit, From Code to Canvas: Charting a Responsible Future for AI and Art.

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Mindfulness Activities

Daily Meditation & Contemplative Practice Offerings: Breathing breaks, reflection journaling, monthly morning practice, midweek mantras, mindful drawing, and meditation. This is a virtual offering from Pratt Institute and is free & open to all.

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Illinois State Museum Returns Stolen Artifacts to Kenyan Officials

The Illinois State Museum has returned over 30 stolen "vigango" artifacts to Kenya. These memorial statues were unlawfully taken from Mijikenda villages in the 1980s and later acquired by the museum. The repatriation effort aims to return the objects to their rightful owners, recognizing their spiritual and cultural significance. Brooke Morgan, a curator at the museum, emphasizes the harm caused by separating vigango from their community, stating that they are inalienable from their creators.

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Check out the recap from last year's Summit!

Virtual Course: Cultural Equity Learning Community

The Cultural Equity Learning Community (CELC) is a two-unit, 12-session, asynchronous anti-racism course with wrap-around supports, open to arts and culture leaders committed to building intersectional racial equity. The CELC is a program of Arts Connect International, funded by Mass Cultural Council, and filmed by HipStory.

Registration Deadline: July 19, 2023

Program Begins: August 1, 2023

Cost: $0 - $1,000 sliding ticket options

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Article: If art is how we express our humanity, where does AI fit in?

MIT postdoc Ziv Epstein discusses the implications of using generative AI for art and media. Along with other researchers, Epstein published a commentary article highlighting the immediate impact of generative AI on creative work and society. The article raises questions about the human role in creative production, the complexity of AI systems, and the need for transparency and responsible development. They emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to address concerns such as disinformation, job displacement, and changes in legal structures and culture. The paper aims to initiate a broader conversation and provide a roadmap for understanding and navigating the fast-moving landscape of AI technology.

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Artists Thrive Monthly Community Meet Up

Join other creatives to discuss AI this month. This is free and open to the public. You do not need to be signed up for the summit to attend!

Date: July 27, 2023 at 3:00 PM EST

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Call for Submissions: Los Angeles Artists-In-Residency Program

Quinn Emanuel is offering a four-month studio residency for emerging and underrepresented artist working in any medium. This is for artists working locally, in the greater Los Angeles area. At the end of the residency an exhibition will be held to display the works of the artist and at least one work will be incorporated into the permanent collection. A supporting stipend will be provided, as well as a materials allowance. Over the course of a year there will be 2 residency cycles, each with a four month residency and a subsequent exhibition in a location deemed appropriate for the work decided on between the artist and curator.

Submission Deadline: July 15, 2023 at 11:59PM EST

Residency Dates: September 2023 to December 2023

Residency Compensation: $5,000 for each of the four months ($20,000 total) and $1,500 materials stipend.

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Call for Submissions: Artists as Instigator Residency Program

The National Public Housing Museum’s Artist as Instigator Residency provides support for artists, activists, and cultural workers to incubate ideas and produce new work in collaboration with the National Public Housing Museum. The selected artist receives a $10,000 honorarium and a $10,000 budget for project expenses. In addition to financial support, the National Public Housing Museum provides programming and publicity support and helps the artist make and develop connections with researchers, historians, other artists, and cultural workers, as well as community-based organizations and public audiences passionate about housing justice. Priority will be given to applicants who propose ideas that are close to or ready for the implementation phase and align with the museum's mission and vision. This is open to anyone located in United States and its territories.

Submission Deadline: July 21, 2023

Grant Amount: $10,000 artist honorarium and $10,000 to project supplies

Residency Dates: Fall 2023 – Summer 2024

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Call for Submissions: Community Impact Micro Grant

The Huntington Arts Council (New York) is proud to expand funding opportunities through the Statewide Community Regrant program. Awarded on a bimonthly basis; Community Impact Micro Grants provide funding to non-profit organizations or individual artists for arts & cultural projects and activities that enable Nassau and Suffolk communities to experience and engage with the performing, literary, media, and visual arts. Artists, collectives, unincorporated groups, tribal organizations, and non-profit organizations residing in Nassau and Suffolk counties are all eligible to apply for the Statewide Community Regrant opportunities.

Upcoming Submission Deadline: July 28, 2023

Grant Amount: $1,000

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