Arts Council NI: National Lottery Organisations Digital Evolution Awards

Overview

Aims of the Organisations Digital Evolution Awards

Programme Objectives:

• Upskilling NI arts organisationsin the use of new, emerging, and immersive Technology
• Creation of high quality Digital Art*

Programme Priorities:

1. Creation of digital arts
2. Supporting artists / arts organisations to make digital art for the first time or working with digital technology which they have not used before.
3. Encouraging cross-sectoral collaboration

*What is Digital Art within the context of this programme?

For this programme digital art is artwork that is created exclusively in the digital space; it can either exist in the digital space or be translated into a physical object or tangible experience through technology. Work that exists only in the digital space can be artwork that is consumed online or offline; the latter having some form of installation in a venue.

*What is Digital Art within the context of this programme?

For this programme digital art is artwork that is created exclusively in the digital space; it can either exist in the digital space or be translated into a physical object or tangible experience through technology. Work that exists only in the digital space can be artwork that is consumed online or offline; the latter having some form of installation in a venue.

This grant programme does not cover the simple digitisation of art (in any artform) or performance and must relate to the development of your artistic practice and digital capability. Filmed performances, audio recordings or video capture of material that would be intended for in-person performance is not suitable as the output of a project proposal, and applications applying for such output activity will be rejected as ineligible. Such filmed or recorded elements can be used as assets within a piece of digital art, for example within animation, virtual experiences, or app development.

Is your proposal timeframe suitable?

This programme only relates to those proposals that will take place between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025. All eligible expenditure must be incurred within these dates. If this is not the case for your proposal, you should NOT apply to this scheme as the Arts Council will not meet any costs incurred outside this period.

How much funding is available?

The budget for the programme is £80,000.

• The maximum award value will be £10,000.

How much partnership funding do you need?

No partnership funding is required, but if your proposal cost is greater than the award value you must detail the total cost of your project and all other sources of funding in your application.

Eligibility

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants to this scheme are as follows:

• Arts organisations, registered charities and other organisations which cannot distribute profits.
• Groups of organisations working together to deliver specific projects.
• Organisations currently in receipt of an Arts Council Annual funding Programme award may apply for:
  • projects of an exceptional nature which were not anticipated at the time of their AFP application.

What you can apply for

Here are some examples of the type of project they are aiming to support through this scheme, this list is far from exhaustive.

• 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/Artificial Intelligence 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) Piloting new forms of support to individual artists or organisations that results in the creation of digital art.
• Essential digital equipment and software up to a max 20% of Total Request Value (i.e. 20% of the total amount you are requesting from them in the application). All requests for hardware or software must be integral to project delivery and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by assessors.

Collaborative partnerships

Collaborative applications with creative businesses, freelance creative industries practitioners or other arts organisations working together in cross-discipline projects/activities are encouraged.

One application form should be used for the complete collaborative project.

Single artform collaborations are also eligible and your project may include creative industries freelancers/ businesses with skills in relevant technologies to contribute towards the delivery of the project.

Collaborative projects must have a lead applicant – that is, the applicant in whose name the application is submitted and who, in the event of an award, will be the organisation responsible for managing the grant, and monitoring and reporting on the project. The lead applicant must be based in Northern Ireland.