Client Background
Scottish AI Alliance are a strategic collaboration organisation between the Scottish Government and the Data Lab which is Scotland’s Innovation Centre for data and AI. Their work is around the delivery of Scotland’s national artificial intelligence strategy. Trying to expand conversations around the impact of AI, expand it outside the data and AI world and try to show that the conversation is relevant across all sectors and all industries and the societal impacts should be discussed by everyone, not just those in the data and AI world.
They recently hired out The Boardwalk for their Creative AI Forum. Post event we spoke with Calum McDonald, Engagement & Participation Lead on why they chose The Boardwalk as a venue, their experience in the run up to the event and on the day and more.
Q: Can you tell us about the event you held at The Boardwalk?
‘So we had been working with a project called Creative Informatics. Creative informatics are based in the University of Edinburgh and they explore innovative things that are happening in the creative industries. They had a project where they funded 10 artists to work with AI technologies and their creative practice to show ways in which you can use AI as an artist in a way that remains trustworthy and ethical. So we partnered with Creative Informatics to host an event. There was a desire to host the event in Glasgow particularly because a lot of events around AI tend to take place in Edinburgh and whereas Glasgow has a more artistic and musical culture that I question can it really be rivalled? I know Edinburgh’s got the festival on right now, but Glasgow does it well.’
Q: The Boardwalk is right in the heart of Merchant City, was the location a factor in choosing it?
We were looking for a space where people who weren’t from the world of data and AI would feel comfortable coming in to talk about AI. I had previously been to an event at The Boardwalk by Youth Link Scotland. I had seen how useful the space was, and that there were lots of different spaces that organisers could respond to. I also saw how helpful the staff were at the organisation, at that event.
Having used corporate and formal event spaces in the past, Calum praised the unique space: “When you arrive into the space, you’ve got that staircase down and you’re looking across the the main room. It’s an impressive space. You can see that it’s well used by different community networks and stakeholders. And to me, that shows a real value and quality to a venue.“
‘This event with Creative informatics popped up. I was looking for a more creative space in Glasgow. To be honest, it was my first option.’
Calum explains that his previous line of work was within programming arts events: ‘I already knew the value of working in community art spaces, it was a matter of getting my organisation that works within data and IA to take the leap to do something in such a space.’
Q: What was your experience of The Boardwalk events team both in the run up and on the ground?
‘The staff at the event that I first visited always knew what was happening. When I arrived the person on the main desk was super helpful and that continued as I moved through the space.
When we started engaging on potentially using that as a venue for ourselves, I found the flexibility and the willingness to do something different marked the staff out from other venues. If it felt like an environment within which to we had the opportunity to do something really special. The staff were helpful, super commutative and didn’t shy away from a challenge.’
Q: What do you know about Impact Arts as a charity? Were you aware that any profit from the event booking was then invested in their programme of community events? Was that a factor in deciding to hold your event at The Boardwalk?
Calum keeps social impact in mind: ‘ Impact Arts investing profits into their programme of community events is definitely something that had in mind. When choosing a venue or a vendor, I prefer non-profit approaches or charitable approaches. It really marries with my personal values, but also my organisations values very well, so it allows us to be responsible as an organisation. It marries perfectly with our wider vision, which is to be working, looking for and collaborating with organisations that have a positive social and community impact.’
Q: Do you have plans to return? ‘We would be very willing to return. As we continue to work in Glasgow, the advantages of the location, the community enhancement that the venue provides and how nice it was to work with them, I could see us working with The Boardwalk/Impact Arts again.’
If you are interesting in booking The Boardwalk for your next event contact: [email protected] | 0141 575 3001
