Sovereign AI Toolkit

A practical guide for creative and cultural organisations

Sovereign: AI you run on your own systems, in line with your obligations on data, copyright, and accountability.

Open model: an AI model that is open source. You can download it and run it on your own computer. Closed products like ChatGPT and Claude cannot. Examples: Llama, Mistral, Qwen.

This toolkit recommends open models, run on your own systems.

Where to start

AI Readiness Area	What sovereign looks like	Where to start
Leadership & governance	Leadership can name risks, evaluate them, and hold a position	Leadership position
GDPR, data protection & confidentiality	Sensitive material processed locally	Block A
Approved tools & access	A sanctioned set of AI tools staff can actually use	Block B
Staff use, skills & confidence	A safe place for staff to use AI	Block A and Block B
Workflow & productivity opportunities	AI embedded in real work	Block B
Knowledge, archive & reusable assets	AI that works with your own documents	Block C
Creative rights, IP & accountability	Creative material handled locally, with audit trails	Block A

Leadership position

Know the risks, exposure and opportunities.
Evaluate them for this organisation.
Hold a defensible, commonly understood position.

AI Readiness Assessment →

Block A

A local AI workspace

What: AI on one person's computer. Nothing leaves the device.
Covers: GDPR. Organisation and Individual safe use.
Best for: Senior staff working with sensitive material now.
Tools: Jan·Msty·LM Studio

Block B

A managed shared workspace

What: One shared AI system the organisation runs. Staff log in via browser.
Covers: Approved tools. Team-wide safe use. Workflow.
Best for: Organisations standardising AI across staff.
Tools: Open WebUI·LibreChat
Note: Needs basic server admin, in-house or via partner.

Block C

A searchable knowledge layer

What: Block B plus the ability to read your own documents.
Covers: Knowledge, archive, reusable assets. Deeper workflow.
Best for: Organisations turning institutional memory into a working resource.
Tools: AnythingLLM·Open WebUI
Note: Most organisations benefit from a partner at this stage.

Download the AI Readiness Workbook

The next step. Identify which areas are most pressing for your organisation.