Canadian Universities Seek $10M for AI Creative Training
Canada’s four main arts and design universities are seeking $10 million from the federal government to fund workforce training aimed at helping creative professionals and small businesses integrate artificial intelligence into their work.
The National Network of Canadian Art and Design Universities (UAD4) submitted the request ahead of Ottawa’s upcoming budget. The group includes OCAD University in Toronto, Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver, NSCAD University in Halifax, and Alberta University of the Arts in Calgary.
Training Focused on AI Tools for Creative and Administrative Work
The proposed program would develop training for organizations employing artists, designers, and other creative professionals. Ana Serrano, OCAD’s president and vice-chancellor, said the funding would support the entire creative sector, not just students and faculty at the universities.
Training would focus on using AI tools to handle repetitive administrative tasks, freeing up time for more creative work. For example, audiovisual producers could use AI to plan scenes, develop concepts, and assist with visual effects and editing.
Concerns About AI’s Impact on Artists’ Rights and Job Prospects
While the universities see AI as a productivity booster, some educators are skeptical. The Emily Carr University Faculty Association raised concerns about AI’s potential harms, including the use of artists’ work without permission, environmental costs, and reliance on U.S. tech companies.
They also worry that students might outsource intellectual work to AI before fully developing their own skills. Automating entry-level jobs could limit graduates’ opportunities to gain professional experience.
For freelancers and gig workers in the creative industry, who often lack access to employer-sponsored training, the impact of AI could be particularly significant. These workers are more exposed to the technology’s disruptions, and the proposed program aims to address this gap.
Experimenting with AI in Arts Education
At OCAD, professors like Parantap Bhatt and Alex Manu are exploring ways to integrate AI into their courses. Bhatt requires students using AI to explain its role in their projects, while Manu’s course examines how AI changes the design process.
Serrano views this experimentation as part of a long tradition of artists working with emerging technologies. She cites Canadian artist Char Davies, who helped develop animation software used in films like Jurassic Park and The Matrix, as an example of how artists can shape technology’s evolution.
“It’s not just about adopting it,” Serrano said.
