LAC and UNESCO invite to an international scientific conference on Artificial Intelligence and Cultural Diversity
On 6 November 2025, the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) will host the international scientific conference “Artificial Intelligence as a Source and Threat to the Diversity of Cultural Content: Perspectives of Artists, Audiences, and Policymakers” at the National Film School (58a Miera Street, Riga).
Organized within the framework of the “Culture Crossroads XIX” conference series in cooperation with the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, the event will address the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the development of culture and the arts – highlighting both its potential to enrich cultural diversity and the emerging challenges for cultural policy, the creative industries, and copyright regulation.
The conference topics directly resonate with international cultural policy developments based on the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which Latvia ratified in 2007. The Convention acknowledges the dual nature of contemporary cultural and artistic expressions – as both cultural and economic values – and establishes fundamental principles for policies and measures related to the creation, production, distribution, and accessibility of cultural goods and services.
The conference will open with a keynote by Professor Rūta Muktupāvela (LAC) titled “Technological Change and Societal Transformations”, examining the challenges of safeguarding cultural diversity in the digital age and the significance of the 20th anniversary of the 2005 UNESCO Convention. Researchers Zane Šime (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) and Natālija Čerņecka (National Artificial Intelligence Centre) will explore the intersections of policy, ethics, and innovation in the age of AI. The opening session will conclude with an address by Minister of Culture Agnese Lāce.
The afternoon session, “Generative Artificial Intelligence and Cultural Practices,” will focus on the interaction between AI and creative processes – examining artistic experiences and the use of technology in cultural and creative industries. Aigars Ceplītis (RISEBA) will analyse the meta-media era shaped by AI and the issue of historical appropriation; Voyce Sabrina Durling-Jones (Emory & Henry University) will discuss data sets as living cultural expressions in the context of memory; LAC researcher Līga Vinogradova will share insights into the creativity of the digital generation in the age of AI; and Ketrisa Petkeviča (Creative Ideas Association), Deborah Mofoluwani Esho (University of Lisbon, Institute of Education), and Esther Oreofeoluwa Esho (The Australian New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics / Santarém Polytechnic University) will explore the potential of AI in strengthening cultural diversity and developing new skills.
The concluding session, “Cultural Memory and Digital Heritage Resources,” will examine the role of AI in preserving and enhancing access to cultural heritage. Elīna Vikmane (LAC) will discuss the ethical and practical aspects of using generative AI chatbots in museum environments, while Zane Grosa and Artūrs Žogla (National Library of Latvia) will share experience on improving access to digital resources for the enhancement of cultural memory.
The conference will be held in English, and participation is free of charge. The event will be livestreamed via the LAC Facebook (facebook.com/kulturasakademija) and YouTube (youtube.com/@LKAkademija).
The research focus of the Latvian Academy of Culture is rooted in interdisciplinarity and the exploration of cultural and artistic phenomena. Over its 19-year history, the annual international conference series “Culture Crossroads” has become a significant academic event, engaging experienced researchers, students, cultural practitioners, and creative professionals alike. Each year, the conference fulfils its strategic aim – to serve as a communicative platform for the theoretical and practical dissemination and discussion of research results in culture and the arts.
Additional information:
Aija Lūse
Coordinator of the “Culture Crossroads” conference series
Latvian Academy of Culture
aija.luse@lka.edu.lv | +371 29107218