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Georgia Renaissance Festival · Festival Policies

GARF Creative Authenticity Standard

The Georgia Renaissance Festival is built on real performers, real craftsmanship, real experiences, and the creativity of the people who bring the Festival to life. We respect the artists, artisans, performers, and creative partners whose work shapes GARF, and we uphold those values in how the Festival is presented.

GARF uses AI-assisted tools in appropriate planning, production, administrative, and creative-support workflows. We do not use generative AI to fabricate the Festival experience or present AI-generated artwork as original human-created art.

Last updated August 2026

Real Festival Experience

Photography and video used to represent the GARF experience depict the real Festival — our actual grounds, performers, artisans, food, entertainment, patrons, products, and events.

Generative AI is not used to create or simulate people, performances, crowds, food, merchandise, attractions, or Festival scenes in a way that could be mistaken for something that actually occurred at GARF.

AI-assisted production tools are used for technical and production work that does not materially change the truth of the source image, video, or recording.

Our standard

We use technology to support production. We do not use it to fake the Festival experience.

Commissioned Art & Creative Work

When GARF commissions illustration, artwork, or other creative work represented as original art, the creative authorship comes from a human artist. Generative AI is not permitted as a substitute for the artist's creative authorship.

Digital art is permitted. Our artists work in professional digital creative programs, and the use of those tools does not make artwork AI-generated.

Before final approval, GARF may request concept work, development materials, sketches, layered or native source files, or other reasonable documentation of the creative process.

Decorative & Production Graphics

GARF uses generative-AI tools in limited applications for non-representational decorative and production graphics. These are the ornamental components that frame and finish a design rather than depict anything.

  • Seals
  • Banners
  • Borders
  • Flourishes
  • Textures
  • Icons
  • Motifs
  • Background patterns
  • Dividers
  • Similar ornamental graphic elements

These elements are used as supporting design components. They are not used to fabricate or misrepresent real GARF people, artists, products, performances, locations, or events.

This permission covers graphic ornamentation and production components only. Character art, scene illustration, portraiture, and substantive artistic compositions fall under Commissioned Art & Creative Work above.

People, Voices & Likenesses

GARF does not use a real person's likeness or voice to create a deceptive synthetic representation of that person without authorization. This includes:

  • Deepfakes
  • Cloned voices
  • Fabricated statements
  • Synthetic performances
  • Depicting a real person doing or saying something that did not occur

Ordinary editing of legitimately captured photography, video, or audio is permitted when it does not materially misrepresent the person or the event.

Artisan Marketplace

The same commitment to human creativity extends to the GARF Artisan Marketplace. The artisans who sell with us are here because they make things, and our standards protect that work.

Artwork, designs, and creative goods represented as handmade, handcrafted, original, or artisan-made reflect direct human artistic skill, craftsmanship, and creative authorship.

Under GARF's current artisan standards, AI-generated artwork, designs, prints, and other creative merchandise are not permitted. Finished merchandise produced primarily through 3D printing is not permitted except where GARF has granted specific written approval.

GARF reviews marketplace compliance internally and may require merchandise that does not meet these standards to be removed from sale. These standards are a condition of participating in the Marketplace, and the full terms are set out in our vendor agreement.

Review of Concerns

Our patrons care about creativity and authenticity. So do we, and that is why this standard exists.

When a question comes up about a piece, GARF reviews it directly with the artist, vendor, or creative partner. That review may include:

  • Source files
  • Development materials
  • Process documentation
  • Contracts
  • Other relevant information

What an artist or vendor shares with us stays with us. GARF does not make private working files, contracts, internal review materials, or other confidential business information available for public inspection.

Final determination

GARF makes the final determination as to whether work complies with this standard.

Scope

This standard applies to creative content produced by GARF, commissioned by GARF, or presented by GARF as part of the Festival experience.

GARF may update this standard as creative tools and production methods change.

Our Commitment

Authenticity is part of the GARF brand. We uphold that by presenting the real Festival, respecting human creative authorship, and using new technology in ways that support rather than replace the people and artistry behind the experience.

Questions regarding the GARF Creative Authenticity Standard may be directed to:

[email protected]