The Meridian Arts Commission (MAC) recognizes that technology is an evolving part of the creative process. However, per our mission to "nurture all facets of the arts," we will prioritize the development of human talent. The following guidelines ensure that the City of Meridian’s art programs and public art collection remain a reflection of human experience and craftsmanship.
Human Authorship Prioritized
While artists may incorporate aspects of AI tools, works that are 100% AI-generated (text-to-image) are generally ineligible for permanent commission or gallery display, unless the project is specifically interrogative of AI—meaning the art is about the technology itself, rather than just using it for creative efficiency.
Full and honest disclosure is mandatory for all submitted works. Failure to disclose the use of AI tools, or providing inaccurate disclosure, will result in immediate disqualification and potential refusal of future submissions.
Mandatory Disclosure Statement
Artists must disclose if generative AI was used at any stage of the design process regardless of the percentage of the final output the AI represents (e.g., creating 3D mockups or composite designs for a project). The artist must provide a formal AI Disclosure Statement during the submission process, including:
- Tool(s) Used: The specific name and version of the generative AI model(s) (e.g., Midjourney v6, DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion XL, custom model).
- Prompt(s) (if applicable): A copy of the primary text prompt(s) used to generate the core output.
- Human Contribution: A clear description of the creative input provided by the artist beyond the prompt (e.g., post-processing, hand-painting, physical printing process, specific arrangement of elements).
Intellectual Property and Copyright
Current U.S. Copyright Office rulings suggest that works created largely by AI without "significant human authorship" cannot be copyrighted. With that in mind, artists shall:
- Ensure that content generated does not infringe on copyright or plagiarize from other sources.
- Attribute and properly cite sources where necessary.
- Perform due diligence to ensure that no copyrighted material is incorporated into artwork displayed at Initial Point Gallery without first obtaining proper usage rights.
- Indemnification: The Artist agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the City of Meridian and its employees, and agents against any and all liability, damages, losses, and claims (including legal fees) arising from any actual or alleged infringement of copyright or other intellectual property rights related to the submitted work.
Labeling
Works containing generative AI elements must be labeled as "AI-Assisted" or "Hybrid Media" on the gallery tag, public art signage, or any other signage that lists the artwork medium.
Verification
The MAC reserves the right to request project files or process documentation if the origin of a work is in question.
The City of Meridian and the Meridian Arts Commission reserves the right to amend this AI Use Statement at any time as copyright law, technology, and industry standards evolve. Artists are responsible for reviewing the most current version of the policy prior to submission.