Howard University Launches First-Ever Electronic Studio Arts Create-A-Thon, Pairing Ethical AI With Creative Innovation

By Chad Eric Smith, Director of Marketing & Communications, Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts

When students gather inside the Undergraduate Library at Howard University from November 13 to 15, they won’t just be participating in another campus event. They’ll be stepping into a national conversation about the future of creativity, technology, and ethics—one that places the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at the forefront.

The Electronic Studio Arts Create-A-Thon, powered by DuBAI, marks Howard’s first interdisciplinary creative hackathon built around professional-grade AI tools, ethical experimentation, and hands-on mentorship from some of the world’s leading creative technology companies.

For Jacoby DuBose (B.A. ’06), lecturer in the Department of Art and creator of the event, the vision is clear.

“The Electronic Studio Create-A-Thon is a creative hackathon I've designed to explore what happens when our students have access to professional-grade AI tools within an ethical framework,” he said. “We've secured some significant partnerships that I think demonstrate the national and international interest in what we're building at Howard.”

A Platform Built With Howard Students at Its Center

At the heart of the Create-A-Thon is DuBAI, a multi-modal, multi-model creative platform DuBose developed after noticing a widening divide in who has access to AI tools.

“I've been developing DubAI specifically to solve problems I kept seeing in my classroom and in the industry: creators, especially our students, are either locked out of AI tools entirely, prohibited by costs, or they're using them without understanding the creative and ethical implications,” DuBose explained.

DuBAI is designed as a full creative pipeline, providing students with:

• Script development
• 3D modeling
• Music production
• Video generation
• Node-based workflows on an infinite canvas
• Integration with industry-grade generative models and tools

It's built on an infinite canvas with node-based workflows, so students can see and control their creative pipeline from concept to final output. The platform integrates AI agents, generative models, and professional tools from our partners, all running on AWS infrastructure.

A Lineup of High-Level Partners—And What It Signals

The Create-A-Thon’s partner roster reads like a who’s who of the global creative technology sector:

• Amazon Web Services (cloud compute + onsite mentors)
• Warner Music Group
• Stability AI
• Luma AI
• Dolby Atmos
• Autodesk
• MusixMatch
• Audioshake
• OpenPlay
• Lovable

These companies are providing professional tools, APIs, and mentorship at no cost to Howard students.

DuBose sees this as a defining moment.

These aren't symbolic partnerships; these companies see Howard students as the next generation redefining the creative economy, and they want to invest in that relationship now.

Three Days of Creative Exploration: The Full Schedule

The Create-A-Thon unfolds over three days, beginning with a hands-on preparation session and moving into two full days of collaborative production and industry engagement.

Thursday, November 13 — Preview + Prep Day (Completed)

Students kicked off the Create-A-Thon with an introduction to DuBAI’s creative tools, formed interdisciplinary teams, refined their concepts, and received workspace and project setup support.

Friday, November 14 — Hackathon Kickoff 

• Hackathon kickoff and challenge overview
• Atlantic Comic Con & BLNK TV sessions
• Animation and AI workshop
• Creative music labs (Loveable, Loop Masters, Track Libs)

Saturday, November 15 — Collaboration & Showcase 

• Open collaboration and project work session
• Music production and creative tool training labs
• Lunch + continued development
• Final showcase + closing remarks

All activities take place in the Undergraduate Library, Level S1, Room L36.

Defining the Future of Ethical, Culturally Grounded AI

While the Create-A-Thon will produce prototypes, performances, and digital works across five tracks—Music & Sound Design, Film & Animation, Visual Arts & Fashion, Ethics & Policy, and UI/UX—the outcomes reach beyond the weekend.

DuBose has his eye on something more lasting.

Students and mentors will co-author a Responsible AI Manifesto, participate in a digital exhibition, and have direct visibility with industry partners who are interested in recruiting emerging talent.

“This is bigger than a single event,” DuBose emphasized. “It's about positioning Howard at the center of the conversation about ethical, culturally-grounded AI in creative fields.”