Adopted July 29, 2026
Artificial Intelligence Guidelines and Best Practices for Boulder's Arts and Cultural Community
Developed by the Boulder Arts Commission and the City of Boulder Office of Arts and Culture
The Boulder Arts Blueprint positions Boulder as a "living lab" for creative experimentation, where arts and culture are empowered to engage with the defining questions of our time including technological change and artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is already present in our creative ecosystem, and its role will continue to evolve. These guidelines are an invitation to engage thoughtfully, with your mission and your community members at the center.
Values Statements
These guidelines are grounded in the values that Boulder's arts community has articulated, in part, though the Arts Blueprint process:
- Human creativity is irreplaceable. AI is not a creative authority. Understand how you are using it as a tool, and do not allow it to replace the human element of creativity. The artistry, relationships, and lived experience that community members bring to cultural work cannot be automated.
- Mission alignment matters. Technology choices should serve your organization's purpose, not dictate it.
- Openness builds trust. Our community members deserve to know when and how AI is being used in art-making, programming, and decision-making.
- Art belongs to the artist. Be conscious of artists' rights when using AI tools.
- Equitable practices require active intention. AI systems can reflect and amplify existing biases. Minimize bias by interrogating your tools, diversifying your data sources, and centering perspectives of communities most likely to be affected.
- Experimentation is welcome; harm is not. Boulder celebrates creative risk-taking. That spirit extends to technology, alongside a responsibility to avoid reinforcing inequity or marginalizing communities.
- AI use carries environmental costs. Approach AI with awareness rather than alarm, choosing tools thoughtfully and being mindful of their environmental impact.
- Responsible, thoughtful adoption is the key. Empower and educate yourself and those you work with to understand best practices, set clear expectations, and hold yourself accountable while recognizing that the landscape will keep changing.
- Our understanding will evolve. We know that AI today will look different tomorrow. We hold these statements as a living reflection of our community’s values, open to revisiting as the technology and our collective wisdom about it continues to grow.
Mission of the AI Working Group: Our Arts Commission AI Working Group works to ensure that Boulder remains a place where creative work is supported and protected, and that everyone in the creative community can engage with artificial intelligence thoughtfully and with confidence, to whatever extent they choose. The Arts Commission representatives will continue working with City staff to develop our internal policies and practices, convene conversations across the cultural sector, and provide our grantees and partners with resources and tools to navigate AI responsibly.