AI SOCIAL CLUB: Creative AI for Beginners

Generative AI is rapidly transforming the creative industries.

This hands-on AI Social Club workshop shows artists and creators how to actually use today’s most powerful AI tools for writing, image creation, video, music and creative development.

Only 25 places are available to keep the workshop practical and interactive.

Earlier this year, AI Social Club: The Symposium brought together over 200 artists, filmmakers, technologists, researchers and entrepreneurs at the University of Manchester.

Across the day we heard from voices including the BBC GenAI team, Showrunner (Amazon-backed AI filmmaking tools), AI Wales North, DreamLab at MediaCity, Manchester Metropolitan University, and researchers from the University of Manchester and Royal Holloway’s CoSTAR programme.

But the real purpose of the symposium wasn’t just presentations.

It was to ask a bigger question:

Who is reclaiming the business of creative authorship in the age of AI?

Across the creative industries artists are navigating a rapidly shifting landscape — new tools appearing almost weekly, new possibilities emerging for independent creators, and new concerns about labour, authorship and ownership.

The symposium created a space for open conversation about both the opportunities and the tensions.

But as many people said during the day:

“This is fascinating… but how do we actually use these tools?”

So we created Part Two.

AI Social Club: Creative AI for Beginners is a full-day, hands-on workshop designed to move beyond theory and into practical creative workflows.

If the symposium explored the ideas, debates and big questions around AI, this workshop focuses on the tools, techniques and creative processes artists and creators can start using today.

Through demonstrations, guided exercises and discussion, participants will explore how generative AI is beginning to reshape writing, design, filmmaking, music and creative development.

You don’t need to be technical.

This is not a lecture.

It’s a working session for creators.

Across the workshop we will explore:

• Understanding Generative AI
What these tools are, how they work and why they are transforming creative industries.

• ChatGPT and Large Language Models
Using AI for writing, research, ideation and creative development.

• Image Generation Tools
How generative image models work and how to create stronger visual results.

• Comparing Major Image Platforms
Exploring tools such as Midjourney, ChatGPT image tools and Nano Banana.

• Video Generation
An introduction to emerging AI video tools and how creators are experimenting with them.

• Audio and Music Creation
Exploring generative sound and music tools with a live demonstration.

• Creative Workflows with AI
Using AI as a collaborator for concept development and problem-solving.

• The Global Creative AI Community
Where artists, filmmakers and creators are sharing AI work around the world.

• Future Creative Workflows
AI agents, automation and the evolution of creative production.

• Ethics and Responsibility
Bias, transparency, trust and responsible use of creative AI tools.

Throughout the day participants will take part in hands-on exercises and discussion, allowing them to experiment with tools and explore how they might support their own creative work.

By the end of the workshop you will leave with:

• A clear understanding of how generative AI tools work
• Practical experience using AI for text, images, video and audio
• A set of creative workflows you can begin using immediately
• Knowledge of the key tools currently used by creative AI practitioners
• Insight into the future direction of creative AI technologies
• Connections to the AI Social Club creative community

Most importantly, you’ll leave with confidence experimenting with AI as part of your creative process.

This workshop is designed for:

• Artists and creative practitioners curious about AI
• Filmmakers and video creators
• Designers and visual artists
• Musicians and sound creators
• Producers and creative entrepreneurs
• Students exploring new creative tools

No technical background is required.

This session is designed as a beginner-friendly introduction.

If you are already building advanced AI pipelines or working professionally with machine learning systems, the content may be too introductory.

This is a hands-on workshop, so participants should bring a laptop to take part in the exercises.

After booking, all participants will receive a short email with details of the apps and platforms used during the workshop, along with instructions on how to set up accounts in advance so you are ready to participate on the day.

If you don’t have access to a laptop, a small number will be available for shared group work during the workshop.

To keep the workshop practical and interactive, places are limited to 25 participants.

This allows time for exercises, discussion and support during the day.

Once the workshop is full, no additional tickets will be released.

AI Social Club is a growing community of artists, technologists and researchers exploring the creative and cultural impact of artificial intelligence.

What began as informal gatherings has now grown into a network of talks, workshops and events bringing together creative practitioners, researchers and industry leaders.

Because talking about the future is interesting.

But making things is where it gets real.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

International Anthony Burgess Foundation, 3 Cambridge Street, Manchester, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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