JCPA Statement on Artificial Intelligence in Public Art
JCPA’s mission is to enhance the livability and creative identity of the community through arts-based engagement with the public.
Public art is an expression of human experience — made by human hands, shaped by human vision, and carried forward by artists who bring skill, intention, and creative authorship to their work. Johnson City Public Art exists to steward that tradition on behalf of our community.
We recognize that digital and AI tools have become part of the contemporary creative landscape, and we take seriously the concerns they raise — including the unauthorized use of artists’ work in AI training, questions of authorship, and the integrity of creative labor. Our commitment to artistic excellence, equitable process, and community authenticity requires that we address these concerns directly.
Our Policy
JCPA holds that meaningful human creative authorship is the foundation of all work considered, commissioned, or displayed under our program. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be used in a supporting role — for research, reference, or as one instrument within a human-led creative process — but the expressive work itself must originate with, and be owned by, the artist. Artists are required to disclose any use of AI tools in their process. Works produced primarily through AI generation, without sufficient human creative authorship to qualify for copyright protection under U.S. law, are not eligible for JCPA programs.
Specific parameters for AI use will be defined project by project, allowing each JCPA subcommittee to establish clear expectations appropriate to the scope and context of their work.
These principles have always governed our program. They continue to do so.
