Leith Festival organisers defend use of AI in promotional materials
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Festival facing criticism for using artificial intelligence to design posters and other promo material
A Leith community festival is facing criticism for using generative AI in its promotional material.
Leith Festival, which takes place 13-21 June, has a packed programme of events planned covering art, music, theatre, dance and historic tours.
However, the festival has been criticised by artists for its use of AI in the process of creating promotional materials.
Festival organisers said they had received a number of comments about their use of ‘modern technology’ during the design process for promotional materials. Comments began soon after the announcement of the festival’s 2026 dates.
Responding to posts on Instagram, Leith Festival named the designer of the artwork as Sweet, a Leith-based creative agency.
Darren Smith is creative director at Sweet and is a volunteer board member with Leith Festival for more than 15 years, he spoke to the Evening News.
He said he has faced personal backlash following the project which has affected his mental health, but defended the project, insisting there is more to the project than using AI prompts.
Mr Smith said: “Everybody, by the looks of it, just thinks I went on to Chat GPT and put in, create me a nice looking picture for Eat Sleep Leith Repeat. That is not the case. It starts off like that. It generates images, but sketches and full color images. So when I found the right one that I want to use in this project, then I would download that image. I would then take it into Photoshop and I would grayscale it.
“ I would then take it in Adobe Illustrator. I would then make a silhouette, and then I would colour them in the brand colour. And then with all the posts, I've done that manually. It's not been an AI thing. It's me using my design skills and my typographic skills to lay out the social posts, the stories and the posters.”
Mr Smith, who has been a graphic designer for around 30 years, said that he believes AI is a tool and that it has been used to speed up a part of the design process.
He said: “I've not copied anybody's work. I've done it all creatively with a process that I use now. It has sped up my process by months.”
He continued: “I'm pretty proud of what I've done. I've got no issues about what I've created. For me, it's original, as I say, I went through a process to get to that end result, and I'm pretty delighted with it. It's a bit unique, and it's a bit edgy, and it's a bit vintage, it's a bit Leith-y.”
The festival has also addressed the controversy in a post on social media. Organisers said the technology was used as a ‘small part of the design process’ and that ‘no-one is missing out on any work locally’.
A spokesperson said: “We have had a number of comments on our use of modern technology, as a small part of the design process, in 2026, and would like to confirm our official position on the matter.
“As a small team of volunteers working as a charity, we are happy to confirm that no-one is missing out on any work locally.”
The statement continued that the work was completed by volunteers who and organisers believe there to be ‘room for a little creative technological innovation’.
They added: “All art/design/assets are done in house, by professional individuals in their own time, outside their own work/business/family commitments, free of charge - some of whom work in design, marketing and audio production.
“We strongly believe that arts/design/creatives can never be replaced, but also feel that with modern technology, there can be room for a little creative technological innovation too - i.e. the basis for our fun wee characters.”
However, there are still concerns. Commenting on the statement, one stallholder said: “With artists paying a significant fee for their trader spots to then see the event being advertised by AI material, is not a good look for many of us who reject AI as part of our business model, brand and artistic identity, which is why many have been concerned.”