Digital Spark grantees from Serbia, together with the Metamorphosis Foundation team, convened an advocacy workshop dedicated to the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the cultural sector and creative industries.
The workshop brought together a coalition of six organizations led by, KreativaLab, Belgrade which will jointly develop and implement an advocacy initiative focused on promoting ethical AI practices and strengthening protections for artists, cultural workers, and creative professionals. The initiative will address key issues related to the current regulatory framework in Serbia, legal and ethical considerations, copyright protection, and the growing risks associated with the misuse of public domain and open-access content by companies developing AI technologies and tools.
Through this advocacy effort, coalition partners aim to support artists and cultural workers in protecting their creative work while promoting transparent, fair, and rights-based approaches to AI development and use. The initiative will encourage greater public discussion on the societal impact of AI technologies and their implications for the cultural and creative sectors. By engaging a broad range of stakeholders, the coalition seeks to contribute to the development of policies and practices that ensure AI technologies are used responsibly and in a manner that respects human rights, creativity, and intellectual property.
The advocacy process will culminate in the AIRS (AI Rights Shield for Independent Artists and Cultural Scene) campaign, which will include the creation and dissemination of educational and informative media content. Through clear advocacy messages and public awareness activities, AIRS will raise awareness about ethical AI practices in culture and creative industries, with particular attention to young artists and creators of cultural and creative products.
The advocacy plan was developed during a meeting hosted at the premises of KreativaLab in Belgrade, which serves as the lead organization of the Serbian grantee coalition and acts as the LocalCapHUB for partnership development, networking, promotion, and advocacy for positive social change in Serbia.
In addition to the advocacy workshop, the Metamorphosis project team conducted monitoring meetings with Digital Spark partners operating in Presevo, Novi Sad, and Belgrade. These meetings extend beyond project monitoring and provide valuable opportunities to strengthen partnerships, exchange knowledge, jointly address emerging challenges, and ensure organizations receive the support necessary to maximize their impact.
The meetings also reinforced the regional cooperation at the core of the Regional Support Mechanism EECA, connecting organizations across Eastern Europe and Central Asia that are advancing digital rights, civic participation, and democratic resilience through collaborative action and knowledge-sharing.
The visits were conducted as part of the Regional Support Mechanism EECA project, implemented by Metamorphosis Foundation and TechSoup, in partnership with CIVICUS and under the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) that covers the Global South.
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