Scarborough Artists Slam Council's AI Deckchair Designs, Demand Local Creativity

A large, colorful deck chair has been placed outside a building in Scarborough to celebrate the town’s 400th anniversary. The fabric on the chair shows a steam train arriving at a station, with people dressed in old-fashioned clothes. There are also words that mention important dates in Scarborough’s history. This deck chair is part of an art trail, with each chair showing a different moment from the town’s past. The local council hired an agency to create the designs, and the agency used artificial intelligence, or AI, along with their own skills to make the artwork.

However, many local artists are upset about this decision. They feel that the council should have given the job to artists who live and work in Scarborough, instead of using AI. Adrian Riley, a well-known artist in Scarborough who designed a mural at the Central Tramway Station, called the new designs ‘AI slop’. He said that Scarborough is a place where people come to enjoy culture and art, and that visitors can see AI art anywhere in the world. Adrian believes that what makes Scarborough special is its local artists, their workshops, galleries, and exhibitions. He worries that if the town uses too much AI art, it will lose its unique character and people will have less reason to visit.

Another artist, Hannah Grahamslaw, is 25 years old and creates art about Scarborough. She said that projects like the deck chair trail used to give work to artists like her. Now, she is concerned that AI art is taking away jobs from real artists. Hannah also believes that AI art is often made by copying the work of real artists, which she thinks is unfair. She said that without artists, North Yorkshire would be a dull and boring place. The council’s director for community development, Nic Harne, defended the project, saying that the deck chair trail is only temporary and that they would welcome ideas from local artists for future projects. He also said that the council supports artists in many ways, through cultural programs and events. The council will review how successful the art trail is before deciding what to do next, and they hope to work more with Scarborough’s creative community in the future.