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External advocacy on AI

Last updated:
20 November 2025

A person listens to other people in a classroom
Postgraduate students at a Post-Grad Community visit to Kew Gardens 2024, UAL | Photograph Abi Rigby

How might we draw on the experiences of students in UAL’s conversations with government and creative industries on artificial intelligence (AI)?

The role of AI in creative practice, education and the creative industries is widely debated, with tensions around issues such as intellectual property, the career outlooks and sustainability. We have an important role in shaping how AI is understood and governed in the creative industries and in influencing national policy conversations.

To inform our influencing of creative industries and government policy around AI, this challenge seeks proposals for participatory processes that:

  • promote community dialogue
  • surface the impacts and perspectives of the UAL community
  • recommend actions for government and the creative industries.

The external advocacy on AI challenge is organised by the Social Purpose Lab. One project will be funded, with a maximum budget of up to £5,000.

Projects should aim to achieve the following objective:

Drawing on participatory or deliberative processes and primary research, explore, how AI should be regulated in the creative industries, how students feel AI is changing their careers, and what actions the creative industries and government should take.

1: Budget efficiently with an itemised breakdown of spend, naming the intended hiring manager for staffing contracts and the intended suppliers for materials or services – you’re strongly encouraged to use UAL suppliers.

2: Ask for no more than the maximum challenge allocation of £5,000 and allocate no more than 50% of the proposed spend to staffing costs.

3: UAL staff: get approval from your line manager, dean or director and key project stakeholders.

4: UAL students: get approval from your course leader and key project stakeholders.

5: Deliver a clear output within the project period: February to July 2026.

6: Design and deliver collaboratively so that benefits extend beyond individual practice. Collaboration across UAL Colleges, disciplines, staff and student groups is highly encouraged.

7: Consider how you can involve students and positively impact the student journey, directly or indirectly. The fund can’t support students’ final projects.

8: If your project involves sensitive data or direct engagement with vulnerable or marginalised communities, set out how:

  • data risks will be managed, including GDPR compliance
  • participants will be safeguarded (for example: a named, qualified safeguarding lead or experienced project partner)
  • appropriate support and signposting will be provided.

In some cases, submission to the UAL Ethics Committee may be required.

9: Represent genuinely new initiatives, or a new, distinct phase of existing work. We cannot fund ongoing initiatives that already have substantial funding. If an existing initiative does not have enough or sustainable funding, you’ll need to make a strong case for how your proposed phase clearly aligns with the challenge brief and brings something innovative. You cannot rely on the fund to extend current work.

1: Only 1 proposal will be funded (max £5,000). This is to avoid duplication of similar activities.

2: Projects focused on formulating or influencing an internal UAL policy on AI will be considered ineligible, as there is ongoing work in this area.

3: Projects based primarily on desk research or lacking in a participatory approach will also be considered ineligible.

In January 2026, proposals will be reviewed through a participatory grant-making process. This means that applicants and a group of UAL staff and students will come together in person and decide how to allocate the available funds.

It’s mandatory for a representative from each project to attend 2 half-day meetings on 16 and 28 January. At these sessions, applicants will pitch their proposals in a short presentation.

Attendees, including applicants, will then provide each project with a score based on 3 criteria:

1: Togetherness and co-creation

Does the project bring people together, involve diverse voices, and strengthen connections across communities?

2: Innovation and legacy

Does the project introduce new ideas or approaches that create lasting benefits, with outcomes and learning that continue to make a difference into the future?

3: Clarity and alignment

Is there a clear and realistic plan that aligns with the challenge brief objectives and can make the vision a reality?

Apply for the Social Purpose Innovation Fund.

Download the Social Purpose Innovation Fund application guide (Word 65KB).