Australian 'contemporary' portrait prize allows entries wholly generated by AI

A prestigious portrait competition has defended allowing entrants to submit artwork generated by artificial intelligence, arguing art is not stagnant and should reflect societal change. The Brisbane Portrait Prize – with a top prize worth 50,0000 – has been described as Queensland's answer to the Archibalds with selected entries displayed at the Brisbane Powerhouse later in the year. In the terms and conditions of entry, the Brisbane Portrait Prize notes this year that it will accept entries "completed in whole or in part by generative artificial intelligence" so long as the artwork is original and "entirely completed and owned outright" by the entrant. A spokesperson for the prize told Guardian Australia that allowing AI entries acknowledged the definition of art was not stagnant and would always grow. "BPP prides itself on being a contemporary prize and we are always interested in what'contemporary' portraiture is while fostering both the ongoing evolution of art and engaging in the surrounding conversation," they said.