2024 Annual Event + Dr. Steve Dipaloa + Betty Speckman

The 2024 POIEO Annual Gathering & Group Art Exhibition, held on September 2, 2024 at The Kent Gallery in Vancouver, BC, brought our creative community together for a multi-layered event exploring the theme “Human Creativity + Artificial Intelligence.” Featuring a ticketed session in the afternoon (12–4 PM) and an open house in the evening (4–7 PM), the gathering combined a group exhibition, community symposium, musical performances, and POIEO’s annual celebration. The exhibition centered on works created by POIEO members, each responding in their own way to the question of creativity in the age of A.I., resulting in a diverse and thought-provoking collection of artworks tied to the shared theme.

This event also marked the culmination of a full year of the FRAME Mentorship Program, developed in collaboration with artist and educator Betty Spackman. Mentors and mentees presented the work they had developed throughout the year, offering a window into their creative processes and the guidance that shaped them. Betty also delivered a keynote address on authenticity, materiality, and the responsibility of artists within an increasingly mediated and technologically driven world.

Alongside her, POIEO welcomed guest speaker Dr. Steve DiPaola, an internationally recognized pioneer in AI-based computational creativity. Through sharing both his research and his artistic work, he invited attendees to reflect on how human imagination might evolve in tandem with emerging technologies. With contributions from POIEO members, FRAME participants, and invited guests—supported by rich conversation and live performances—the gathering became our most expansive event to date, inviting everyone to consider the guiding question: As the A.I. age begins, what is the essence of human creativity?