Just Thoughts Special Edition: AI within Art recap.
This post is the summary of learnings for AI within Art event project. Second free edition of Just Thoughts due to summer holiday season.
This blog post is a special edition of Just Thoughts. The content in this article is only partially “handwritten” and co-piloted with Grammarly’s spell-checking and re-phrasing for the desired tone of voice. Additionally, it includes summaries made by ChatGPT from previous writing and text files automatically generated from recordings.
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Reading these thoughts, you are either inspired or not. The first rule of reading these thoughts is asking yourself: Why should I think this way?
Welcome to another special free edition of Just Thoughts. Due to the holiday season, I’m utilizing collating old content about AI within the art project we ran during the spring.
Upcoming, paid content will include “people work” in small organizations, leadership development plans for organizations and individuals, and thoughts about weddings, travels, society, and other more or less timely topics from the internet world.
Until then, enjoy this summary about AI within Art!
Summary
A special edition of Just Thoughts describes the event AI within Art, collating thoughts and experiences in one post. Structured in the following way;
List of previous writings on Just Thoughts about AI within Art
Summaries of the pre-event interviews.
Learnings from the event
Event in numbers
What’s next?
The first chapter summarizes what I’ve previously shared on Just Thoughts about the event. The second chapter summarizes everything discussed in our pre-event interviews and what we learned. This will lead to the event's learnings, including some basic 101:ns about event creation. The fourth covers the event in numbers and the stories it tells, while the fifth is the event's future.
1. - AI-within-art: Previous Just Thoughts writings
In this section, I will give you an outline of previous writings about the project. I’m taking the text from the articles, feeding them to chatGPT, and asking them to summarize the key points. I’m using Grammarly to adjust my tone on Substack instead of trying to prompt chatGPT for the right tone, and getting the content to sound like my previous writing feels easier using the tools in this order.
1.1 - Just Thoughts #17: The “Why” for Ai within art.
The essence of Simon Sinek's quote, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it,” is that the deeper motivations and values behind a product or action resonate more with people than the product or action itself. This principle applies to the role of AI in art creation as well.
The "Why" Behind Creating Art in an Age of AI:
The real value lies in the origin stories and personal connections associated with the creation process. Here’s a summarized breakdown of the individual stories provided:
Grandmother Dorothy Dolenc:
Story: Dorothy, 84, has dedicated her life to teaching English and continues to do so despite physical challenges.
Why It Matters: Her sense of purpose in teaching and encouragement led the narrator to write, culminating in creating a book. This connection and inspiration highlight why the origin of art matters more than the mere product.
Mother's Sacrifice:
Story: The narrator's mother wanted to be an artist but pursued a career in finance to provide a stable life for her family.
Why It Matters: Now retired, she’s revisiting her passion for art, and the narrator hopes to encourage her to achieve her dream. The story shows how personal sacrifices and deferred dreams imbue art with deep emotional and motivational value.
Collaboration with Yuzu & Mathilda:
Story: Instead of relying on established connections, the narrator works with two design students from immigrant backgrounds, providing them with opportunities in event production.
Why It Matters: This choice reflects a commitment to equity and empowerment, highlighting how art and events can be a platform for social good and breaking down barriers.
Cousin's Artistic Potential:
Story: The narrator's cousin, who works in insurance, created one art piece and hasn’t shown her art publicly since.
Why It Matters: The narrator hopes to inspire her to share her talent by including her in an art exhibition. The act emphasizes the importance of giving visibility to hidden talents and fostering a supportive community.
Overall Message:
Art creation in an AI-dominated world gains its significance from the stories and purposes behind it, not merely from the finished product. Art is a testament to personal histories, sacrifices, passions, and the desire to uplift others. It’s a celebration of human grit, dedication, and the profound connections we share with others through our creative endeavors.
1.2 - Just Thoughts #14-16: Pitching the event and communicating needs
Here, I’ve copy-pasted all text related to the event from previous writing, given it to chatGPT, and asked it to act as a copywriter and summarize the key points. Most of all, it was about promoting the event, hence the structure. Looking at this summary, it seems to make a lot more sense. However, when looking retrospectively at an exploratory process, you’re biased by the wisdom of the experience.
Unlocking Creativity in an AI-Driven World: Join Our Art and Book Launch Event!
In a world dominated by AI, pursuing your passions is more vital than ever. Avoiding the regret of “what ifs,” we're creating a unique event to inspire and provoke thought about AI's role in art and business.
Event Highlights:
Art Exhibition: We're combining the launch of my poetry collection, Answers to Love, Life, and Leadership in an AI-Driven World, with a compelling art exhibition. Our goal is to provoke and explore AI’s impact on creativity.
Why Attend? If you’re questioning the value of human-created art in an AI era, join us to discuss and celebrate the essence of artistic expression and human ambition.
Special Features: Pre-order the book on Line-cut and pick it up at the event. Enjoy illustrations by Jaana Suortti and layout by Yuzu Nakamura.
Exclusive Patron Opportunities:
Benefits: Get a copy of the book, a choice of posters, an invite to the opening, and optional mentions in marketing materials.
Support Us: With limited patron tickets, your support will help cover event costs and ensure its success.
Get Involved:
Pre-order the Book: Available for pre-order now; don’t miss the first printing batch!
Attend the Exhibition: Enjoy a free exhibition with pre-event interviews and thought-provoking discussions.
Join the Conversation: Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for updates and insights.
Event Practicalities:
Venue: We aim for a well-organized space with posters, QR codes for added interactivity, and a thoughtful art arrangement.
Attendance: The venue will accommodate up to 50 people at a time, with a goal of 3,600 visitors over three days.
Marketing: We’ll use a dedicated webpage and social media to reach our audience, with pre-registration available.
Support and Sponsorship:
Looking for Partners: We welcome sponsors and partners to help bring this event to life. Reach out via our webpage if you're interested!
Embrace the journey of creativity in an AI-driven world with us. Pre-order your book, become a patron, or join the exhibition to explore the future of art and ambition.
1.3 - Just Thoughts #19: Results from the event
We reflected on what we learned during the event and shared the results from the survey conducted during the event in a live stream. If you're curious, check the end of the recording in Just Thoughts #19 or on Youtube.
The Exhibition Artworks are here, and the event survey results are here.
2. Summaries of the pre-event interviews.
We were using Streamyard for streaming purposes. I previously had chosen to use Streamyeard, as the free subscription's accessible functionalities served the purpose. I upgraded to the paid version with all functionalities mainly because I thought we’d be pushing to more than three platforms, and I also wanted seats for Mathilda and Yuzu. However, downloading the text file feature was one of the most valuable features in retrospect, in addition to being able to download the audio & video files.
Suppose Stream Yard would incorporate Opuspro’s functionality, clipping your recording to content that is likely to go viral and embed brand customization on output, with the ability to push all of that on your socials. In that case, you’re nearing an absolute killer product. Add the opportunity to move audio files on your podcast outlets. It’s game over. You can push authentic content at such speeds that you’re operating faster than 95% of the market. You’re missing the quality of the mastering files and video recording. However, when the likes of Twitch proved that live content followers are more loyal than any other type of follower, I’d say authenticity trumps quality.
What I’ve done here is download the transcript and ask the ChatGPT to summarize the key learnings. It’s not getting the names right, so I had to correct that. Additionally, I’ve uploaded the recordings and embedded the audio files. I should’ve added these in this for every Just Thoughts the week we published them. I didn’t realize they were there.
2.05 - TL: DR - Unified conclusion
After running all text files through chatGPT, I asked it to create a unified conclusion. Based on the output, I couldn’t have written it more concisely.
Unified Conclusion
The event underscored that while AI has transformative potential in enhancing artistic processes and broadening creative possibilities, it remains a tool that complements rather than replaces human creativity. Authenticity, emotional depth, and personal experience are irreplaceable aspects of impactful art that AI cannot replicate. As algorithms increasingly influence content and interactions, there is a growing appreciation for human imperfections and the unique insights they bring to art. This dynamic creates a future where human and AI collaborations are possible and enrich the artistic landscape, fostering innovation while retaining the intrinsic value of human creativity. Society must navigate this balance responsibly, ensuring ethical considerations guide AI’s integration into the arts.
2.1 - AI within Art - Kickoff
We discussed starting the project with the team and what we hoped to learn. View the recording on LinkedIn. Listen to it below.
1. Team Introduction and Background:
Nicolas: A computer science graduate from Aalto University, working in diversity, equity, and inclusion consultancy. Nicolas has a side business in coaching and is an aspiring poet, which fuels his interest in exploring the intersection of AI and art.
Mathilda: A design student from Germany at Aalto University, nearing the completion of her bachelor's thesis. Aalto's high ranking in design education motivated her to move to Finland.
Yuzu: Originally from Japan, I am also a design student at Aalto, working in marketing for the multidisciplinary community Dash. She and Mathilda bonded over organizing events, leading to their collaboration on this project.
2. About Dash:
Community Focus: Dash is known for its annual hackathon in October, where students and professionals from various disciplines form teams to solve real-life problems presented by companies.
Involvement Opportunities: Dash provides avenues for volunteering and participation, with updates shared on their Instagram and LinkedIn pages.
3. Personal Stories and Fun Facts:
Mathilda Shared a childhood story about her family’s horses, highlighting a personal connection to nature and an amusing memory of horses seeking apples in her kitchen.
Yuzu: Discussed his unexpected entry into event organizing after eavesdropping on a conversation, reflecting on the importance of seizing opportunities.
4. Event Organizing and Ignite Program:
Origin of Collaboration: Mathilda and Yuzu’s collaboration began through event organizing and was further solidified by their participation in the Ignite startup accelerator, which fosters early-stage startup development.
Ignite Experience: Their initial idea for Ignite evolved, highlighting their flexible approach to problem-solving and innovation.
5. Exploration of AI and Art:
AI Art Skepticism: Mathilda and Yuzu initially held reservations about AI art. Matilda valued the traditional artistic process and was concerned that AI art would be valued similarly to hand-crafted art. Yuzu viewed AI as a tool for enhancing design but was skeptical of its validity as art.
Changing Perspectives: Through their project, they began exploring AI’s potential to augment rather than replace traditional artistic methods. They recognized AI's ability to enhance creativity and aid in the design process.
6. Project Goals and Plans:
Event Details: The event will be held at Magito in Suvilahti, Helsinki, from June 10 to 12, with public access on Helsinki Day (June 12). Weekly live streams will feature discussions with experts in AI and art.
Confirmed Speakers: Roope Rainisto, a former design lead at Varjo known for his work in AI art, and Mikko Alasaarala, an expert in AI products and blockchain, are confirmed speakers.
7. Upcoming Discussions:
Exploring AI’s Impact: The team plans to invite speakers from traditional art backgrounds to discuss their perspectives on AI. The goal is to bridge the gap between conventional artists and AI proponents, fostering a more inclusive conversation about the role of AI in art.
Questions to Explore: The team aims to explore how AI can enhance traditional art, the ethical implications of AI-generated art, and ways to support conventional artists adapting to technological advancements.
Conclusion:
The "AI within Art" kick-off event set the stage for exploring the intersection of AI and artistic expression. By bringing together diverse backgrounds and perspectives, the team aims to create a comprehensive dialogue on how AI can complement and enrich the art world. Their journey reflects a blend of skepticism, curiosity, and innovation, driving a nuanced understanding of AI’s role in modern creativity.
2.2 - Episode two with Dylan and Calvin Soh
Sizing the opportunity of chatting with the father-son duo Calvin & Dylan and their perspectives on the topic. View the recording on LinkedIn.
Key Learnings from Interview on Generational Biases in AI within Art
The interview explores the dynamics between Cal and his son Dylan, focusing on the intersection of generational experiences and the evolving role of AI in creativity. Here are the main points:
1. Intergenerational Relationships and Learning
Mutual Learning: The interview highlights a reversal in traditional roles, where children (like Dylan) often influence and guide their parents (Cal), especially in emerging technologies. Cal acknowledges that he learns from his son's experiences and perspectives, illustrating a dynamic where parenting becomes a two-way street of learning and growth.
Creative Upbringing: Dylan's childhood involved a unique environment for prototyping and experimentation, which has made creative thinking and product development second nature to him. Cal’s parenting approach included creating a space for his children to innovate and learn by doing, which Dylan credits to his early ventures in product design and crowdfunding.
2. AI and Creativity
Tool vs. Creator: Both Cal and Dylan view AI primarily as a tool rather than a creator. They use AI to generate ideas or as a starting point for their creative processes. However, they emphasize that true creativity and depth come from human experiences that AI cannot replicate.
Lived Experience: The interview stresses that AI lacks a nuanced understanding of human emotions and lived experiences. For instance, AI-generated content may mimic the form in fields like comedy or songwriting but often lacks the depth and relatability derived from personal experiences.
3. AI's Limitations and Future Potential
Superficiality: AI-generated content often comes across as superficial because it lacks genuine emotional experiences. While AI can churn out numerous ideas, the most impactful creative works still rely on human insight and empathy.
Evolution of AI: There is speculation about AI’s future capabilities, including whether it could develop a deeper understanding of human emotions. However, Dylan and Cal express a cautious view, acknowledging that while AI might become more sophisticated, it will still lack the intrinsic human touch.
4. Societal Impact and Ethical Considerations
Responsibility: Cal and Dylan discuss the need for societal responsibility in managing AI's development. They argue that neither politics nor business alone can address AI's ethical implications, suggesting that a collective, informed societal approach is necessary.
Future Generations: The interview touches on the uncertainty faced by future generations regarding career stability in an AI-driven world. Both Cal and Dylan reflect on the necessity of adaptability and the potential for AI to disrupt traditional career paths.
5. Unique Upbringing and Global Perspective
Travel and Cultural Exchange: Dylan’s grandmother’s culinary venture, One Kind House, which combines travel and cooking, reflects a lifestyle of continuous learning and adaptation. This environment has contributed to Dylan's broad worldview and innovative mindset.
Conclusion
The conversation underscores the ongoing dialogue between generations on technology's impact, the balance of AI's capabilities with human creativity, and the ethical considerations required as AI evolves. The insights reveal a blend of optimism and caution, highlighting the need for thoughtful integration of AI in artistic and personal realms.
2.3 - Episode three with Roope Rainisto
Key Learnings from Interview with Roope Rainisto on AI within Art.
1. AI as a Creative Enhancer:
Access to Knowledge: AI can vastly enhance human creativity by providing access to a broader spectrum of knowledge and ideas than a single human can grasp. Arvo compares AI to an "overbrain" that artists can partner with to gain deeper insights and inspiration.
Cost Reduction: AI technology can significantly lower production costs, which encourages taking creative risks. This is particularly relevant in filmmaking, where high costs often stifle innovation.
2. Transition from Design to AI Art:
Background in Design: Roope Rainisto spent 20-25 years as a professional designer specializing in UI/UX design, concept design, and mixed reality. His shift to AI art was influenced by a desire to explore new frontiers rather than staying in the same career for decades.
Midlife Reflection: Roope’s pivot to AI art was partly driven by a midlife crisis, reflecting on how he would feel about his career at 65. He sought to engage with AI, anticipating its transformative impact on art and creativity.
3. AI’s Role in Art and Design Processes:
AI for Early Stages: AI excels in the initial phases of projects, such as concept exploration and idea generation. It can produce numerous possibilities, which the artist then refines.
Integration Challenges: The challenge lies in integrating AI-generated elements into the larger workflow and deciding when and how to use AI tools effectively without letting them dominate the process.
4. Defining and Evaluating AI Art:
Art vs. Good Art: According to Roope, art is defined by its ability to evoke emotions in the audience. A piece created with AI that elicits feelings is considered art. The distinction between art and sound art hinges on the depth and quality of the emotional response.
AI as a Tool: AI is seen as a tool among many in the artistic process. The debate around AI art versus traditional art will diminish as AI integrates into various artistic tools and workflows.
5. Inspiration and Artistic Process:
Diverse Inspirations: Roope draws inspiration from multiple sources, including music, movies, books, and real-life experiences. He likens the process of creating AI art to photography, where a large volume of initial work is refined to select the most impactful pieces.
Consistent Style: Developing a distinctive style is crucial for recognition. Even with AI, the artist’s ability to maintain a consistent narrative and style across their work defines their artistic identity.
6. Technical Aspects of AI Art Creation:
Stable Diffusion and Customization: Roope uses tools like Stable Diffusion, which allows extensive customization and fine-tuning. This personalization goes beyond simple prompts, enabling unique artistic styles that reflect the artist’s vision.
Conclusion:
Roope Rainisto's insights highlight AI’s potential to augment creativity rather than replace it. His journey from a traditional design career to pioneering AI art underscores the evolving role of technology in artistic expression. When integrated thoughtfully, AI tools can democratize creativity, reduce costs, and open new avenues for creative exploration. However, the essence of good art remains its ability to connect emotionally with the audience, regardless of the tools used in its creation.
2.4 - Episode four with Mikko Alasaarela
During the fourth interview, just before the event, we used more Streamyards features, added logos, and used more colors.
Summary of Interview with Mikko Alasaarela on Bias in Algorithms – AI within Art Episode 4
Introduction
Participants: Mikko Alasaarela, a seasoned entrepreneur specializing in algorithmic influence, and Nicolas & Yuzu, members of the AI within Art team.
Focus: Exploration of how algorithms shape content, social media behavior, and the potential for positive use of AI in social contexts.
Mikko Alasaarela's Background
Professional Journey: Lived in Silicon Valley and Berlin; founded multiple startups.
Specialization: Notable for his work in algorithmic influence and advisory roles in developing products in this space.
Current Ventures: Runs InBot (consulting) and Equal (a social app focused on creating healthy communities in the age of AI).
Impact of Algorithms on Social Media
Definition Shift: Traditional social media has evolved into algorithmic media, particularly exemplified by TikTok.
Algorithmic Influence: Algorithms determine much of the content consumed, affecting moods, worldviews, and self-perceptions.
Content Dynamics: Algorithms prioritize content that triggers emotional responses quickly, often leading to a focus on emotionally charged or controversial topics.
Challenges with Algorithm-Driven Content
Inauthentic Engagement: Algorithms often promote inauthentic content designed to captivate rather than engage meaningfully.
Emotional Manipulation: Content creators must adapt their material to exploit emotional triggers, making authentic engagement more difficult.
AI-Generated Content: The increasing prevalence of AI-generated content on social media platforms blurs the line between human and machine-generated material.
Future of Social Media and Authenticity
Evolving Content Spaces: As generative AI content grows, people may move towards more private and authentic forms of interaction, like group chats.
Authentic vs. AI Content: Genuine human interaction and flaws may become more valued than AI's perfected outputs.
Imperfect Art: The appreciation of imperfections and unique human qualities in content may increase as AI becomes more prevalent.
Unique Artistic Value and Technology
Flaws and Authenticity: Imperfections in human-created content are seen as adding unique value, much like the distinct sound of analog pianos compared to digital ones.
AI in Art: Generative AI can simulate human errors, but genuine human imperfections may be what distinguishes authentic art.
NFTs and Evolving Art: Concepts like algorithmic evolution in NFTs could allow for unique, evolving digital artworks that can't be copied exactly, blending technology with authenticity.
Key Takeaways
Algorithm Awareness: Understanding how algorithms influence content consumption is crucial for navigating digital interactions and maintaining authenticity.
Social Media Trends: As generative AI becomes more sophisticated, future social media engagement may tend towards smaller, more authentic communities.
Value of Human Art: In a world increasingly influenced by AI, human-created art's uniqueness and imperfections will likely be more appreciated.
Conclusion
Mikko Alasaarela's insights highlight the growing influence of algorithms on social media behavior and AI's potential to challenge and enhance our understanding of authentic engagement and content creation. As AI continues to evolve, the balance between technological advances and human creativity will shape the future of social interactions and artistic expression.
3. Learnings from the event
The below highlights previously known things and reflections of the event.
3.1 - Venue
The venue was picked based on a few factors; the main one was the area. The origin of your event will make all the difference in the world. Both in the good and the bad. It does not mean you couldn’t create the world's most founder-focused entrepreneurial event in the “backwoods” of the global startup map (referring to Slush back in 2010, before it put Helsinki on the map). However, choosing a location for an event is as crucial as choosing a location for your home. It needs to align with your values while catering to your convenience. Our choosing of the Suvilahti area was deliberate for two reasons: it’s explicitly pro-LGBTQIA+ and sits in the center of a cultural hub. Finding the right venue in the area with multiple choices one could create exhibitions in (arguably all you need is a wall), we skipped a beat and asked the expert in the field instead of walking through all venues to make the choices. I was initially skeptical about the venue choice, but I will trust the judgments of those more experienced and who have not failed you before. Additionally, Mathilda had a clear vision of how to make the rigging happen, so there was no need to question the choice, even if she posed some question marks at first.
The venue “Magito” has a history of almost two decades of operating in the area, run by the same maestro “Ossi.” We hadn’t been acquainted before, but he introduced us to the different characters of the area who came to visit the event. To give you a sense of the location, simultaneous to our event, the community operating the area had made an exhibition of the history of the area that is known to be home to multiple events. Without it, Helsinki would not be the same. There are few capital cities in the world where you can create globally leading events in their respective categories this close to the city center.
The picture above is from the exhibition “Valoa ja Voimaa” (eng. “Light and Strength”), showing the Suvilahti area at the beginning of the 20th century. Originally a coal plant and, most of all, buildings intact, it hosts some of the most fantastic events in Helsinki. Ultimately, the venue was the perfect choice as it allowed for a quick setup, just enough space for a few hundred people, and there had been other similar exhibitions over the years.
What you want to look for is how you can do the rigging. Where do you hang things, and how can you position the lights? Additionally, you’re looking for how the venue spaces cater to your needs: food, people flow, toilets, and security. In addition to distributing event infrastructure from customer touchpoints, such as an event help desk, to what the customers don’t see but are essential, such as backstage and storage facilities. Furthermore, you should account for logistics like ramps to determine how easy it is to load in and load out the gear for your event. It is a small event, and the mistakes don’t cost much. If your event is big, it will cost you a lot.
3.2 - Length of the event
We were optimistic about the length of the event. The benchmark for an art gallery is that it’s on display for multiple weeks if not months. Hence, booking something for a few days felt like a short timeframe, and scoping it down felt counterintuitive. Our original plan looked like this;
Opening with Press & Patrons 09-10 - Tuesday
Invite only / Friends and family 17-20 - Tuesday
Open to the Public 10 -20 - Wednesday
The original reasoning was that if the press (including influencers) is interested, you’d want them to be the first to attend to build organic chatter and anticipation among the attending crowd and spark discussion before the actual event. Additionally, the idea was for the Partron’s to enjoy the exhibition without feeling crowded.
Nonetheless, having it open for two days felt too long in the end, especially when feeling there was a risk of spreading invites too thin. The conclusion was finally to have the opening in the evening before Helsinki day and only have one day open for the public. It turned out to be good as setting up the event took longer than anticipated, and with the change, we could have a good night's sleep before the event. It is crucial for any event organizer's or human being's well-being.
To elaborate on what was learned above, every event needs a schedule. Depending on the nature of the event, it can be minute-by-minute or less rigid. The original plan looked like this because it had few moving parts and a lot of flexibility.
We spent a lot more time than intended on both the lights and the hanging posters. We wanted safety first, so we had to get zip ties to secure the lights properly at their hanging points. Luckily, we had decided not to have the event open on Tuesday morning, so we had a lot of time to get it ready. The way we hung the posters was how university posters are hung by students when displayed. We were using a fishing line, a wooden stick, and a couple of sticks. Adjusting them to the same height and in line is tedious but doable with this method.
3.3 - Pre-event Marketing
What we did differently, and I have yet to see many events, is to have all the talks before the event, not during it. This approach was because when it comes to art exhibitions, you come there to enjoy the art, not to hear people talking about it. Suppose you're interested in hearing about the artists. In that case, they usually have some clip text or other recorded content at the exhibition for visitors.
Secondly, the point was to move the focus from the artist to the audience. We wanted to hear what the audience says about the art, as you can only be an artist with an audience. We wanted to curate a space for discussion and something more personable.
Thirdly, we recorded our pre-event content live instead of recording and editing it. Live content is much more authentic and mimics an event setting where you're watching the content live. Finally, creating video content live using the tools described in this article makes content generation much faster and more decadent.
Additionally, when setting up social channels from scratch, we learned that most platforms require at least 100 followers before going live. Hence, we used my personal LinkedIn as the outlet for the content, as I had LinkedIn creator mode enabled (you need it to do live streams). In other words, you must first build an audience by other means before you can livestream.
4 Event In Numbers
4.1 - Budget
We used Lu.ma as the official RSVP platform for the event. Regarding event setups, I have yet to encounter a platform as easy and beautiful as Lu.ma. It takes less than 10 minutes to set up an event with ticket sales if you have a Stripe account to plug it into.
The pro-version of Lu.ma (60-70€) becomes a bargain if you have more than 1000€ in sales. In the free version, you pay a percentage of each ticket sale instead of the flat fee in the pro-version.
Additionally, we used Streamyards' "all-features" version for a month at 59€. It gives you up to 8 streaming outlets, stream customization, and more. However, the built-in video-to-text feature was the most helpful. We couldn't ultimately do anything with so many streaming outlets, as our channels didn't have enough viewers. We also failed to utilize the feature to stream guest speakers' profiles. That could've scaled our audiences faster when our guests had tens of thousands of followers on different platforms.
The venue was relatively expensive compared to our possible alternatives, but as explained earlier, we were explicit about the area. At 1200€ for two nights and three days, you could get many different options, not to mention other free gallery spaces. Additionally, talking about "homes," buying the domain and hosting the webpage cost us <50€.
The budget also included the lights Sun Effects sponsored, the materials to hang up to posters <40€, and 24 frames from IKEA á 14,95€ for the posters given to the event's patrons. Finally, we included the book printing costs and shipment, approximately 4€/book, and ordered 100.
We sold 9 Patron tickets for 199.99, including tax, with the value of social mentions, a poster pair from the event, a yearly subscription to Just Thoughts, and the book. Furthermore, we sold a couple of books at the event and a couple before the event at 15€ / book. We forgot that books and cultural events are taxed at 10% and not 24%, as we are making changes retroactively. Still, luckily, Lu.ma made edits to this easy.
If you don't count the fact that many friends had pre-ordered the books a couple of years ago, we broke even with the event. We had hoped to generate enough revenue to pay some salaries, but maybe someday it would be possible. At the very least, we got what we hoped for a successful execution of the event that the audience received well.
4.2 - Visitors
Our original plan was to have everyone sign up, and we'd register all attendees to get more accurate numbers. However, things got off pretty quickly, and since the area had a lot of other events, we had multiple walk-ins. The first included groups from a nearby special needs home who didn't have phones, so they couldn't fill out our form. Registering everyone would've been tricky, so we didn't make it an issue. We just asked the people who showed up to enjoy the exhibition and used our time to engage in discussions with the audience.
We had 191 people sign up for the event on Lu.ma, but we could determine a more accurate number of attendees based on the form answers we had. The total number of form answers was roughly 220. Still, many people completed the form as pairs, while most groups mentioned earlier did not use it all.
Hence, we estimated we had about 300+ guests during the event.
4.3 - Enabling Partners and Patrons.
Our two enabling partners were Sun Effects and Artmu. Sun Effects was born as a light design company with more experience in the event industry than almost anyone else in the country. It is a go-to partner for any event. It's not just the gear and services they can provide—the experience and knowledge. Having them as a partner is a stamp of approval in itself.
Artmu is a newly formed company from the student startup scene. They were a perfect enabling partner when endorsing the values AI within Art stands for while catering to a specific need (sourcing art talent).
When it came to closing the partners, there were a couple of phone calls from our organizing party, as we had established the connections before the project.
The Patrons were from my network of connections. Marianne Vikkula was the first one I called, as it felt suitable based on what was being built and what we've built together in the past. She's the COO at Wolt, Chair at Slush, and board member at Marimekko.
The second I messaged was Timo Ahopelto, and a few I thought would identify as friends of his publishing house. Timo holds multiple titles, but given his most recent nickname, "The Poet," doing a Poetry book launch event without him onboard wouldn't feel right. Timo is a Partner at Lifeline Ventures and has been featured multiple times in Just Thoughts.
Along with Timo, you have Ilkka, who equally contributed to past efforts and always helped when asked. Ilkka Kivimäki is partner at Maki.vc. The same can be said for Moaffak Ahmed. Moaffak is the only one who's encouraged me to write about building companies over the years, which is mostly all the career advice you'll ever get from someone who identifies as an investor. Moaffak is commonly known as an angel investor in the Helsinki startup scene.
Through Ilkka, I've Lasse Leppäkorpi, who is currently helping with a new endeavor as a business CXO. He is known for being the founder and CEO of Beddit. We've shared stories over beers enough times that over serendipitous encounters, he was happy to support the endeavor. Oskari Petas shared the same sentiment; as a Co-founder at Wolt and currently acting as an angel investor, he was glad to support the initiative.
Outside of investor profiles, I asked Marc Siles to be a Patron as he is not only a foreigner who's made a successful career in Finland but has also acted as a friend and coach during the hard times of my life. I can say the same for Anssi Rusi. Individuals with kind hearts and firm opinions: Marc Siles is the founder and coach at the Growth Coach, and Anssi is currently the CEO at Supermetrics.
Finally, you have Peik Lehtonen, CEO and founder of Corle. Unlike any other person I've met, there are few as quick-witted, smart, and kind. A master storyteller, he would make magic out of this honorary title. Until everyone realizes this, I'll repeat: he holds every character trait you'll see anyone use to describe a serial entrepreneur. Give him proper funding, and he'll drop more multi-million dollar business within the next few decades.
A special mention needs to be given to Petra Hajko, who supported us by bringing her tea servings to the launch event. She's a former colleague and friend, one of the loveliest and most hardworking people you'll ever meet. While making a career out of helping leadership teams and CEOs, she's grown fond of everything related to living a healthier lifestyle. As a proud Croat, she educated the audience at the event while serving some Croatian herbal tea.
5. What’s next?
As a team, we discussed where we'd like to take this and what it could be. However, the interest lay elsewhere than making AI within Art a full-time endeavor. The community at Suvilahti invited us to do an installation during "Taiteiden yö" (The Night of the Arts) for free in the same style and intent as "Helsinki Day." Anyone can submit and organize an event.
There is still time to set something up, but the team has little drive now. Nonetheless, AI within Art could be a touring concept, taking submissions from artists wanting to highlight their work to an audience who doesn't necessarily participate in art events or take the time to support it.
The team would generate the AI-mimicking picture, handle marketing, and attract patrons who would bring unique artwork highlighted at each event. The monetization could be targeted towards individuals wanting to educate themselves on the use cases for AI and inspire the usage of AI-driven tools in both everyday life and professionally. One could make it a platform because some people submit their work, the crowd selects which ones they hope would be on display, and the crowd makes the AI mimics during exclusive workshops. The best ones are the ones that get displayed.
Voting, submissions, questionnaires, and a shop could all be run on a webpage or Discord, like mid-journey runs its community. However, if we're referring to mid-journey, AI within Art could be an excellent concept for mid-journeys to adopt to draw themselves closer to the rest of the art world. Talk about an "exit strategy."
We also discussed how AI within Art could be a card game. With two artworks on one card, if you guess right, you get the card on your turn. It could be educational for a younger crowd, especially if you want to educate critical thinking about what you see on social media.
Ai within Art may be a social endeavor run as an association or a commercial endeavor run as an LLC. It could be both, like multiple cultural players, due to being able to apply for funding for specific projects with the non-profit entity while targeting educational and consultative services towards companies with the LLC.
Finally, as with any endeavor, the network plays a big part in scalability and brand building. Networking would require significant amounts of time spent within Art-related communities. Time spent can't necessarily be fast-tracked; hence, the project is not yet skyrocketing. While fun and well-executed, we're going only some in with this one.
Yuzu will continue her studies by doing her Master's at Aalto while continuing in her role as CMO at Dash. Mathilda has been actively seeking new opportunities while still determining her plans. On the other hand, I'm applying for new opportunities in full-time positions. I've exhausted the family and friends around pursuing my entreprenurial endeavors, and the rock that is my family no longer wants to support anything other than seeking a full-time job.
Ai within Art is not dead; it is just waiting for the right synergies to present themselves again.
Until next week! Upcoming, paid content will include “people work” in small organizations, leadership development plans for organizations and individuals, and thoughts about weddings, travels, society, and other more or less timely topics from the internet world.
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