• Petition Claim: We are calling on all Memphis-based arts organizations to stop using AI (generated images) in their promotional and marketing materials. Memphis has an abundance of talented local designers, photographers, and illustrators who deserve these opportunities. Arts organizations should lead by example to keep creativity in human hands. 
  
  

Ex. Opera Memphis, a Memphis Arts Organization, used AI to create their poster and promotional images for their upcoming production of Sweeney Todd. They are partnering with Playhouse on the Square, who reportedly already had an image ready for promotions (created without the use of AI). Opera Memphis chose to use their own image instead, choosing to take the opportunity/job from a real artist. ​

• Petition Importance: The power of AI has been growing over the last decade, and it is not for the better. In the last five years, the availability of text-to-image prompts has created easy access to complex, yet unoriginal and jarring images. This laziness has taken many job opportunities from local artists, and this form of “artwork” being supported by an arts organization is not only hypocritical but appalling.

Join the fight against AI shortcuts for artwork, and keep creativity in the hands of artists!