In April 2024, Culture Action Europe, together with Michael Culture Association, initiated the Action Group on AI and Digital. The goals of the group are to inform policymakers on how to best support the integration of AI in the cultural and creative sectors, to identify areas where policy intervention is needed, and to understand the ethical concerns of cultural sector professionals about AI and digital.

The Action Group also operates in light of the recently adopted European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act and prioritises culture-friendly AI Act implementation. Following the AI Act, a specialised body within the European Commission, the AI Office, will facilitate the drafting of the Code of Practice. It will outline recommended best practices for AI providers, helping them comply with the AI Act. The Code of Practice is expected to be developed by the spring of 2025. Culture Action Europe, alongside Michael Culture Association, has been selected to join the Plenary, a large group of stakeholders that will help develop the Code of Practice for Generative Artificial Intelligence. Thus, the work of the Action Group will help inform both organisations’ positions on the Code of Practice and the implementation of the AI Act.

The group convened on April 8, April 30, and October 24, 2024. It is composed of members of Culture Action Europe and Michael Culture Association. To gain a clearer understanding of the sector’s perspective on AI development and shape our position, we also launched a survey. One of the outputs of the Action Group is a position paper, ‘Considerations regarding the implementation of the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act.’