November 6, 2025.
Dear Friends of Arts & Culture,
We are looking for allies in an urgent cause.
At the Mississauga Arts Council we have been talking about developing useful information about AI for our members. As the AI opportunities and challenges cross geographic lines, we see this as a local, provincial, national ladder of opportunity to explore and communicate on the threat to the existence of many traditional creative professions that have shaped the arts sector and life.
The risks of AI for traditional Creators
‘Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has cautioned that artificial intelligence, despite its transformative potential, could bring significant disruption to jobs and energy systems if not managed carefully. In an exclusive interview with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin on Squawk Box, Gates said AI’s economic impact would be “profound,” but the world must focus on balancing technological progress with overall human welfare.’
Unfortunately, we cannot depend on Google, Amazon, X and Meta leaders for their interest in human welfare.
As we’ve been looking into AI and the consequences for the Arts, in particular Music, Visual and Literary Arts, I’m struck by how these risks to Musicians, Visual artists and Literary Artists are not being effectively articulated. MAC through our Community Arts Development Program sees a role to play as an initiator.
When dealing with big issues, what we’ve seen from previous experience is the power and value of collaboration. When we sought increased financial support for the Arts in Mississauga, we researched what we needed and then took it to a Focus Group for elaboration, review and confirmation of these goals and necessary changes, using meetings and alliances with arts groups that enabled us to effectively speak for improved funding from a strong and united position within the city.
MAC’s virtual conference on Arts for Mental Health in October of 2021, produced by Mass Culture, gives us a good model for what we would like to achieve with a national AI & Cre8rs virtual conference. However, as before, we need to start locally and build.
AI and Cre8rs
Our Vision is for a creative arts and entertainment sector that is informed about and protected from AI exploitation
Our Mission is to Research, Curate and Communicate the impact of AI on original creators and their works to policy makers and the public.
Strategy
We narrow our focus to the most significant and at risk groups, Musicians, Visual artists and Writers.
Stage 1
To identify and Provide Expert insights that develop Grassroots awareness of AI benefits and expert insights into risks that inspire collaboration for a greater understanding of the consequences of AI for original creators in our region in Music, Visual and Literary arts.
Stage 2
Provide grassroots concerns to inform provincial Arts Councils and Arts Service Organizations with questions on the specific issues posed to original creators by generative AI to spark conversations and refine the expressed concerns for sharing
Stage 3
Collaborate with a national body to share curated insights and concerns to provide them to a national online conference, aimed at identifying common concerns and beliefs accumulated for a resolution(s) suitable for submission to the federal government’s Task Force on AI.
Tactics
Stage 1
Research and Provide a reading list of expert AI articles and podcasts.
Survey MAC members and local arts and entertainment professionals for responses to interests and concerns about AI and their careers. Identify relatable users for sharing how to’s and provide experts on the threat to original creators.
Conduct art specific, AI related webinars, in writing, visual arts and music.
Stage 2
Present local findings to Provincial Arts Councils
Collaborate with AACO to survey Alliance of Arts Councils of Ontario for their priority questions and concerns about AI threats and opportunities.
Collaborate with OAC to survey Writing, Visual, Music Service Organizations for their priority interests.
Conduct a webinar as an online curation of these concerns, to narrow recommendations for sharing nationally
Stage 3
In collaboration with Mass Culture, Canada Council, provide Provincial concerns hotlist and invite other provincial arts councils, municipal councils, and ASO groups from across Canada, to join in an online Conference on AI for Cre8ors in Literary, Music and Visual arts, aimed at informing a white paper of recommendations from these most affected arts genres for Canada’s AI Task Force. Then have members of Canada’s arts sector speak to their constituencies and media.
Outcome
Communication and Distribution of Recommendations to all participants, relevant government agencies and media, timed for maximum effect to enable their inclusion in national policy development at the federal level so as to protect artists’ careers and their works.
We’re just getting started and we need you. Please review, looking for any role you see for your agency and share any notes you wish to see added and we will schedule a meeting to breakdown next steps for who is doing what and when. Look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Mike Douglas
Mississauga Arts Council