Venues in the West of England are taking a stand against AI-generated artwork. Café Kino in Stokes Croft, Bristol, has recently banned AI-generated posters, citing ethical and sustainability concerns.
This follows a similar move by Bristol-based live music venue Zed Alley, which banned AI artwork on its social media channels last month. Chris Illingworth, who manages Zed Alley's social media, stated that the decision was due to ethical concerns, a lack of originality, and the environmental impact of AI.
The University of Bristol Students' Union also banned AI artwork at its Freshers Week poster sale. This decision came after a motion led by mathematics student Ruby Saunders, who expressed concerns about artists not being credited and the environmental impact of AI.
Earlier this week, a mural based on AI-generated artwork was removed from the Jolly Collier pub in Bedminster following community feedback describing it as "disrespectful." Punch Pubs & Co, the pub's owner, had previously called the mural a "temporary solution" and stated they would work with artists for its replacement.