Why let AI Have all the Fun?
Innisfil AI (artistic intelligence) is a vibrant community initiative that bridges creativity, technology, and local culture. We invite members of our community to unleash their imagination by suggesting prompts that will serve as sparks for our talented local artists to transform them into breathtaking works of art. No algorithms are involved in generating this AI – just Artistic Intelligence; raw human creativity. Through this collaborative process, we aim to celebrate our community while supporting our local artists and businesses.
Innisfil AI plays off of the technology and controversy of AI-generated artwork, which relies on algorithms processing vast datasets, while artist-made work stems from human creativity, emotion, and lived experience.
Community members were invited to submit whimsical prompts that re-imagine life and landscapes in Innisfil, and the participating artists will choose one of the favourite submissions to transform into a real work of art. Completed works will be reproduced and displayed in local businesses along Innisfil Beach Road this December.
This temporary public art exhibition will create opportunities for exploration and meaningful conversations about technology and art.
Save the Date! Mark your calendar for these next opportunities to engage with the Innisfil AI project:
- Thursday, November 28, 2024 6-8 p.m. Innisfil AI Launch Event, preview the completed artworks before they are installed in local businesses.
Community Submission of Prompts
What’s a prompt? A prompt is a piece of text or input given to an AI to generate a response or image. For Innisfil AI, community prompts will be brought to life by real artists, not computers. Want to see a sea monster take over Innisfil Beach? What about a Pokémon sunbathing at Friday Harbour? Through this collaborative art process, Innisfil AI celebrates our community and supports local artists and businesses.
Call for Community Submission of Prompts is now closed. Thank you so much to all community members who submitted prompts, both online and in person. What prompts will artist choose to bring to life? Stay tuned to find out!
Innisfil AI Participating Artists:
We are excited to announce the 10 artists who will be transforming the prompts into works of art in their unique styles:
Tatyana Abel
Angela Aujla
Asher Hartwin
Brad Ferguson
Enrique Bravo
Maria Kelebeev
Nicholai Avigdor Melamed
Neil Smith
Sarah Hancock
Sheresha McIntyre
Thank you to our participating businesses:
- Agilec, Crossroads Plaza, 1070 Innisfil Beach Road
- Bruno’s Bakery & Café, 808 Innisfil Beach Road
- Bubbles ‘N’ Suds Laundromat, 847 Innisfil Beach Road
- Innisfil ideaLAB & Library, Lakeshore Branch, 967 Innisfil Beach Road
- Johnny Burger, 847 Innisfil Beach Road
- Tenoch Restaurant & Bar, 945 Innisfil Beach Road
- Salon Rehoboth, 813 Innisfil Beach Road
- Water Depot, Crossroads Plaza, 1070 Innisfil Beach Road
- Wing’n it, Crossroads Plaza, 1070 Innisfil Beach Road
ARTISTIC CONSIDERATIONS
The artwork will be displayed in the Town of Innisfil, which is located on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Wendak, and Mississauga Nations. This land continues to be shared between the Anishinaabe Peoples of Beausoleil First Nation, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, and Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, and is located in Region 7 of the Métis Nation of Ontario. This land is covered by the 1923 Williams Treaties, and Treaty 18 of 1818–also known as the Lake Simcoe-Nottawasaga Treaty.
Timeline
- Application open: August 6, 2024
- Application Deadline: August 30, 2024, 5:00 pm
- Jury deliberation and awarding: September 3-5, 2024
- Artist information session: August 21, 2024, 7:00 pm
- Community Submissions (of prompts): August 19, 2024 to September 15, 2024
- Spotlight on Innisfil AI at MakerFEST, Saturday, September 14, 2024 10am-2pm
- Artist Work begins: September 18, 2024
- Artist Work Completed: November 1, 2024
- Installation 1: Physical Works to Library Staff for reproduction first week of November
- Installation 2: Reproductions Installed in local business Nov 19 to 26
- Launch Event: Thursday, November 28, 2024
All questions related to this competition are to be directed to:
Tania Grégoire
Communications & Event Specialist
705-431-7410 ext. 5222
Email: tgregoire@innisfilidealab.ca
Innisfil AI (artistic intelligence) is supported by the My Main Street Community Activator initiative. My Main Street is funded by a Government of Canada investment, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to foster the stabilization and revitalization of main streets across southern Ontario.
Honorarium
Artists selected for participation in this project will receive monies as an honorarium for artistic skills and talents. Artwork can be created in any medium but must be translated into and submitted as a digital file.
See payment schedule below. The cost of vinyl material application of the digital art work will be borne by the ideaLAB & Library. The cost of physical supplies (e.g. paint, brushes) will be borne by the artist, from the honorarium. Any costs incurred by the artist that are beyond the reimbursement schedule stated below will be borne by the artist.
Payment 1: $500– upon signing Artist Agreement
Payment 2: $500 – upon delivery of completed
Eligibility
Eligibility will focus on local artists within Simcoe County with lived experience and a diversity of perspectives and abilities that reflect our growing community, including representation from the BIPOC, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, Senior and Youth communities.
Artist Information Meeting
Artists were invited to join us for a virtual information session. ideaLAB & Library staff were available to
answer questions regarding the adjudication process and submission requirements.
Watch the recorded session here.
Detailed Submission Guidelines
CONTENTS
- Project Goals
- Site
- Eligibility
- Selection Process
- Submission Deadline and Delivery
- Schedule
- Jury
- General Provisions
- Definitions
- PROJECT GOALS
This one-of-a-kind, community inspired public art project will see 10 original artworks installed in local businesses along Innisfil Beach Rd. Community members are encouraged to submit prompts, and artists will receive a list of prompts, and select their favourite to bring into creation as a work of art.
This project will be accessible to the community while directly supporting the Town’s Culture Master Plan.
This project invests in the local community and economic development by promoting local artists and businesses, and inviting the community into the businesses to view the installations.
Capitalizing on the rapid pace of growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, particularly Generative AI, the innovation of Innisfil AI (Artistic Intelligence) lies in its ability to create a dynamic cultural landscape that fosters community engagement and technological literacy while supporting local talent and businesses.
Artists must be prepared for the project by:
- Creating a unique, original work, made entirely by the artist(s)
- Meet the completion deadline
- Have an accompanying artists’ statement
- Artwork can be created in any medium, with a maximum size of 4 ft x 5 ft (artists who wish to work on a larger scale must first contact the Library)
Other considerations for project goals:
- Raise awareness about important digital issues, including generative AI, artistic expression and skill, and artwork ownership.
- Provide professional opportunities for artistic expression.
- Enhance civic engagement & community pride and build social capital within the community.
- Enrich and activate public space during the fall and winter season.
- Promote local artists and businesses.
- Create a supportive community-based learning environment to discuss the value of artists, and the complicated relationship between generative AI and artistic expression.
2.0 SITE
10 artworks will be installed on windows of various local businesses along Innisfil Beach Rd in November 2024.
- ELIGIBILITY
- Artists under 18 years of age must have their parent or legal guardian sign all required documents on their behalf.
- Eligibility will focus on local artists from the municipality and wider Simcoe County area.
- Members of the BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, Indigenous, Senior and Youth communities, as well as those of diverse abilities, are encouraged to apply.
- Town of Innisfil and Library employees are not eligible to apply to this call.
- SELECTION PROCESS
The Successful Artist(s) will be selected through a process involving a submission of a portfolio review, artist statement and biography by a jury of community representatives.
- Submission Requirements
Only online proposals via submission form. Proposals shall include the following information:
- Artist Biography
- Artist’s Statement: A description of the desire to participate in the project and why
- CV (exhibition history and education)
- Uploaded artwork, please provide 3-5 examples of visual work in the style and medium you would work in.
Please Note:
- Hard copy submissions will not be accepted for this call.
- Do not send images separately (e.g. via CD, USB or separate files).
- Selection Criteria
Submissions will be scored on a scale out of a maximum 100 points.
- Competition Goals and Context – Scoring Weight 30%
The submission has displayed the confidence and ability of the artist to bring to life a concept generated by the public, aligning with project goals, and context for public display.
- Artistic Excellence – Scoring Weight 20%
The work reviewed demonstrates quality, originality and excellence.
3. Artistic Experience – Scoring Weight 20%
The Artist is able to demonstrate and provide examples of experience, through included images and positive references, with respect to public presentation or publication and recognition by other Artists or arts organizations.
4. Technical Expertise – Scoring Weight 20%
The past work of the Artist(s) as established by included images and experience and positive references demonstrate and provide examples of their ability to successfully execute an artwork of a professional manner.
- Location – Scoring Weight 10%
Priority is given to artists who live and/or work in Simcoe County.
- Adjudication Process
Submissions will be reviewed by staff and the independent Jury to determine whether any additional information is required to fully evaluate the technical aspects of the proposal. Artists will be notified via e- mail of questions, or any additional information required.
The independent Jury will conduct the adjudication of the submissions to determine scores based on the Selection Criteria. The Successful Artists will be the Artists with the highest scoring proposal that meets or exceeds all passing scores as outlined under Selection Criteria (section 4.0.3).
- SUBMISSION DEADLINE AND DELIVERY
Innisfil AI (artistic intelligence) accepted online.
Deadline for Submissions:
Submissions will be received up to and including
5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) August 30, 2024. Submissions will be made online.
- SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Artist Selected: September 5, 2024
Artists work period: September 18-November 1, 2024
Original works on display at Lakeshore Branch: November 26-30, 2024
Installation of digital works in local business: November 19-26, 2024
- JURY
The Jury is comprised of members of Innisfil Arts, Culture and Heritage Council (IACHC) along with Library staff, and local artists.
The identity of the jurors is kept confidential until the winning proposals are announced.
- GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Artist Agreement
The Successful Artist will be required to sign an agreement with the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library. Upon notification of winning the commission, the Successful Artist will have a 5 day time period in which to work with the Library to finalize and sign the agreement. If an agreement cannot be reached within the 5 day time the Library may award the commission to the next artist in scoring range.
A copy of the sample artist agreement is included as Appendix A of this document.
- Copyright
By making a submission to this call, the Artist guarantees that designs submitted are their own original creations and do not infringe upon the copyright of any other individual or group.
In general, copyright of the design will remain with the Artist. Please see Appendix A for full copyright information to be finalized as part of the Artist Agreement.
Materials provided to the Library as part of an Artist’s submission to this call become and remain the property of the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library and may be used to promote this call, Town of Innisfil’s Public Art Program or the Town and Library in general.
- Reserved Rights and Privileges of the Library
The Innisfil ideaLAB & Library reserves the right to not award the commission to any Artist(s) and to cancel or re-issue the call at any time.
- DEFINITIONS
Artist: The Artist is the principal creator of the proposed Public Art design. The Artist is responsible for the contractual agreement with the Library, communications with the Library and the coordination and payment of any team members required to successfully complete the proposed Public Art work design.
Public Art: Public Art is a work of art created by Artists or in collaboration with Artists through a public process and existing in publicly accessible Town of Innisfil Property.
Successful Artist: The Successful Artist is the Artist whose proposal receives the highest score and meets or exceeds all passing scores.
Jury: Jury has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.0.
Interactive: Interactive art refers to an experiential work(s) that encourages viewer involvement and / or intellectual engagement.Functional: Functional Art refers to aesthetic objects that serve utilitarian
Submission Checklist
Your submission shall include the following information as outlined in detail in the Call for Artists document.
□ A completed Submission Form
□ Artist Biography
□ Artist Statement
□ Artists CV
□ Uploaded examples of work
Online Submissions Only
Please note that: Late submissions will not be accepted; and Incomplete submissions will not be accepted.