AI Policy

HCC recognises that AI features are increasingly embedded in everyday software. We distinguish between using these tools to support administrative tasks and using them to replace creative work, independent thinking or professional expertise.

This policy applies to work undertaken for or funded by HCC, including work by staff, freelancers, commissioned artists and creative practitioners, and recipients of Haringey Unearthed Grants. Relevant requirements will be communicated through recruitment materials, application guidance, contracts and grant agreements.

Protecting creative work and community wealth
Community wealth building is central to HCC’s purpose. We invest in artists, freelancers and local organisations, recognising the value of their skills, ideas and labour. AI must not be used to replace paid creative commissions or professional roles that HCC would otherwise engage people to undertake. Its use must support, rather than undermine, opportunities within the creative industries.

Human judgement and accountability
Staff and collaborators remain responsible for their work, including any material produced with AI assistance. AI must not replace independent judgement, meaningful engagement with communities, or the development of an artist’s or practitioner’s creative ideas. Routine spelling, grammar and accessibility assistance does not normally require disclosure.

Privacy, confidentiality and creative rights
Personal information, confidential documents, unpublished creative work and commercially sensitive material must not be entered into AI tools. Staff and collaborators must respect copyright, consent and the rights of artists and other creators. Work supplied to HCC must not be uploaded to AI tools, like ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude, which retain and process these materials and data. 

Accessibility and inclusion
HCC recognises that AI tools can support accessibility, translation and communication. Such use is permitted where it helps people express their own ideas and does not substitute for the skills, experience or creative thinking being assessed.
 

Acceptable use
Subject to the principles above, AI may be used to:

• Support routine administration, planning and document formatting.
• Assist with spelling, grammar, readability and translation.
• Provide accessibility support.
• Help structure or summarise non-confidential information, with human review.

Prohibited use
AI must not be used to:

• Replace artists, freelancers or other icreative professionals in work that HCC would otherwise commission or pay for.
• Generate creative work for presentation as an individual’s original artistic output, unless that is considered part of the artistic output.  Any proposed commission in which AI forms part of the artistic medium or subject must be discussed and agreed with HCC in advance, including its implications for creative labour, consent and rights.
• Fabricate experience, qualifications, references, research, consultation findings or evaluation evidence.
• Make recruitment, grant-award or commissioning decisions. 

HCC expects job applications to reflect applicants’ own experience, skills and judgement. We want to understand the person applying, their suitability for the role and what they would bring to our team, including writing and editing skills as well as critical thinking. 

Applicants may use tools for spelling, grammar, or accessibility. They must remain the authors of the substantive content and be able to discuss and substantiate their application.

Applications may be disqualified where there is clear evidence that AI has substituted for the applicant’s own substantive answers or thinking, or has been used to misrepresent their abilities, qualifications or experience.

HCC expects Haringey Unearthed applications to reflect applicants’ own ideas, creative practice and judgement. We want to understand the person or organisation applying, the proposal they have developed and their relationship with the communities they propose to work with.

Applicants may use tools for spelling, grammar, translation, accessibility or organising their own material. The substantive proposal, including its creative ideas and approach, must remain their own.

Applications may be disqualified where there is clear evidence that AI has substituted for the applicant’s own creative proposal or thinking, or has been used to fabricate experience, partnerships or community engagement.

Concerns will be reviewed and applicants will have an opportunity to explain their process before a decision is made.