Arts Council opens £80,000 Individual Artists Digital Evolution Awards scheme, supported by The National Lottery and Future Screens NI
29th August, 2023
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, in collaboration with Future Screens NI, has opened applications to a funding programme, which aims to provide artists in Northern Ireland with skills in the use of digital technology to create digital art. Online applications are open from Tuesday 29 August 2023 and will close at 12noon on Friday 29 September, with decisions expected by November 2023.
The Individual Artists Digital Evolution Awards, worth £80,000, from The National Lottery and Future Screens NI, offers individuals the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £10,000 and is open to artists across all art forms. This programme only relates to those proposals that will take place between 18 November 2023 and 31 October 2024.
The Individual Artists Digital Evolution Awards aims to support those artists who are making digital art for the first time or are working with digital or immersive technology which they have not used previously. Collaborative applications from individual artists working together in cross-discipline projects and activities are also encouraged. Examples of the types of project that this scheme will support includes:
- Creation of a virtual environment or augmented reality environment; such as augmented reality visual arts or sound overlay on venues or geographical spaces
- Using technology, such as 3D rendering and printing, to create artwork digitally which can either exist digitally or be manufactured into 3D physical objects
- Using technology to translate data into artistic content; for example algorithms that create music or visual content from data input
- App development for the delivery of artistic content; this could include gamification or making an artistic experience for consumption on digital devices (note: this does not include streaming of filmed/recorded performances).
Karly Greene, Director of Strategic Development & Partnerships, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented,
“Today’s announcement is welcome news. This programme will support artists in the creation of art using digital and immersive technologies and will also help artists develop skills in the use of these new technologies. This programme reflects the Arts Council’s commitment to encouraging innovative practices that cross art form boundaries and build digital capabilities within the Northern Ireland arts sector.”
Professor Paul Moore, Director, Future Screens NI, added,
“Future Screens NI is delighted to be involved once more in this funding opportunity. As technology advances so too do the possibilities offered to artists to find new ways to make meaning. The collaborative aspects of the work also helps build capacity and skills across the sector and establish new partnerships between industry and individual practitioners. I look forward to seeing the proposals."
Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Arts Council’s Creative Industries Officer Matthew Malcolm at mmalcolm@artscouncil-ni.org if they wish to discuss eligibility of their project concepts.
The Individual Artists Digital Evolution Awards scheme is open for online applications from Tuesday 29 August 2023 and will close at 12 noon on Friday 29 September 2023, for grants up to a maximum of £10,000. Decisions are expected by November 2023. For further information on eligibility, guidance notes and to apply visit https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding-for-individuals/individual-artists-digital-evolution-awards Please note guidance notes are also available on request in large print format and disk.
About the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the lead funding and development agency for the Arts providing support to arts projects throughout the region, through its Treasury and The National Lottery funds. Our funding enables artists and arts organisations to increase access to the arts across society and deliver great art that is within everyone’s reach.
Every week National Lottery players raise more than £30M for good causes.
More than £47 billion has now been raised by National Lottery players to support good causes since 1994.
More than 670,000 projects have been supported with National Lottery funding, the equivalent of around 240 lottery grants in every UK postcode district.
About Future Screens NI
Future Screens NI is multi-million Creative Cluster Programme funded by UKRI via the Industrial Strategy programme recognised for Global Excellence.
Future Screens NI, Experimental Designs Won the Award for Best International Collaboration at the Irish Education Awards.
Future Screens NI together have invested £52.5mn in the local creative economy generating 3000 projects and creating and sustaining 1539 jobs.
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