'AI slop' art trail cost £11,688, figures reveal

An art trail created by an agency using computer-generated designs described by one artist as "AI slop" cost £11,688, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

The Giant Deckchair Trail was commissioned by North Yorkshire Council as part of Scarborough's 400th anniversary celebrations, with each of the 10 deckchairs depicting a moment in the seaside town's history.

Dozens of artists and residents in the resort previously said they were "deeply disappointed" by the authority's decision to use AI.

However, the council said the trail had made a "positive contribution" to the anniversary.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the authority declined to detail any other costs involved in the project and would not name the agency which undertook the work.

The council said that due to the "significant media attention and substantial hostile online commentary", the suppliers had told the authority "disclosure of its identity in connection with the current controversy would be likely to result in significant commercial prejudice and adversely affect future commercial business opportunities".

Several quotes had been sought for the project, although "the cost of the design was below the procurement threshold that requires three quotations", the council said.

It added that two North Yorkshire-based design agencies and two artists were initially selected and three proposals were received in response, "with one agency selected upon review of the proposals".

Adrian Riley, a Scarborough-based artist who designed the mural on the side of the Central Tramway Station and on the front of the town's railway station, described the deckchair designs as "AI slop".

"We're a tourism destination and an important part of that is people visiting for culture," he said.

"You can get AI anywhere in the world, but you can only visit the workshops, galleries, exhibitions and studios of many local artists by actually being here in Scarborough."

When the deckchair trail was revealed this summer, artist and illustrator Hannah Grahamslaw said: "It's not just the impact on my own employment that offends me, my concerns are mainly that all AI 'art' is stolen from artwork created by real artists.

"It is is damaging to the environment. It takes jobs from artists, without whom North Yorkshire would be an extremely dull and grey place."

Tony Watson, North Yorkshire Council's head of economy and tourism, said the trail had been a successful part of the town's anniversary celebrations.

It had provided a "free, family-friendly attraction that encouraged residents and visitors to explore different areas of Scarborough throughout the summer", he said.

The trail had generated more than 14,000 QR code scans and had high engagement and attracted "positive feedback from participants and host venues as well as considerable social media interest", Watson said.

He added that the authority had held constructive discussions with local artists who had expressed concerns about the role of AI in the design process.

"While we believe its use was justified in this instance, we will continue to consider such technology on a case-by-case basis."

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