Funding, Artists, Organisations

Arts Council opens new £100,000 Creative Industries Seed Fund

10th January, 2022

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, in collaboration with Future Screens NI, today (Monday 10th January 2022) opened a new funding programme which aims to develop partnerships that will use the arts within new and emerging digital, immersive technologies to expand the possibilities of how the arts can be distributed and utilised in new and innovate ways. Online applications are open from Monday 10th January and will close at 12 noon on Monday 28th February 2022, with decisions expected by Friday 15th April 2022.

Two males and one female using virtual reality headset.

The Creative Industries Seed Fund, worth £100,000, from The National Lottery and Future Screens NI, offers applicants the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £25,000. To support prospective applicants to the programme, the Arts Council together with Future Screens NI, will an online webinar on 25th January 2022, to enable applicants to explore their ideas with industry experts. Registration in advance is essential and you can find details of how to attend here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/information-webinar-creative-industries-seed-fund-tickets-242826339117

The Creative Industries Seed Fund aims to assist arts organisations, entrepreneurs, and creative businesses to undertake projects that contribute to the growth of the creative industries and unlock future income generation. Eligible applications must be partnerships between an arts organization or artist and a creative business or academia. Proposals must also use new and emerging technology to advance artistic practice to enhance the experience of arts audiences, create new digital artistic products, or allow for digital distribution of existing arts products or services. This funding programme is only suitable for proposals that will take place before 28th February 2023.

Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented,

“The opening of the Creative Industries Seed Fund today is welcome news and we are delighted to partner with Future Screens NI on this exciting programme. The programme will support projects that distribute and utilize the arts in new and innovative ways using digital and immersive technologies. This programme reflects the Arts Council’s continuing commitment to encouraging innovative practices that cross artform boundaries and build digital capabilities within the Northern Ireland arts sector.”

Professor Paul Morre, Director Future Screens NI, said,

“As we continue to experience transitions associated with Covid-19 it is essential that we support artists to develop the skills required to benefit fully from new, emerging and immersive technologies. Future Screens NI is privileged to partner with Arts Council NI to deliver the Creative Industries Seed Fund which will enhance the ability of artists to develop ambitious creative projects employing new technologies and to develop specialist skills required to sustain the future of the creative industries. As new technologies emerge it is essential we continue to develop practices and projects which challenge the idea that art, technology and science operate in different spaces.”

The Creative Industries Seed Fund is open for online applications from Monday 10th January 2022 and will close at 12noon on Monday 28th February for grants up to a maximum of £25,000. For information on the webinar, eligibility, guidance notes and to apply visit http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/funding/scheme/creative-industries-seed-fund-2022. Please note guidance notes are also available on request in large print format and disk.