Arts Council England
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First funded projects for Digital R&D programme announced

The first projects to be funded as part of the Digital R&D programme have been announced at the Digital R&D Forum event in Manchester.

First round awardees:

  • Cheltenham Festivals in partnership with I-Dat and Warwick University
  • The Museum of Design in Plastics (MoDiP) in partnership with Adaptive Technologies and University of Brighton
  • Imperial War Museums in partnership with Historypin and University of Edinburgh
  • Unlimited Theatre in partnership with Storythings and Jon Rogers and Product Research Studio at the University of Dundee
  • Script in partnership with Agency Mobile and Dr Rob Toulson
  • The Royal Opera House in partnership with POP and Kings College London 
  • Knowle West Media Centre in partnership with IBM and University of West of England
  • Live at LICA in partnership with Transpennine Games Cooperative and Imagination Lancaster 
  • Pavilion Dance in partnership with Mobile Pie and Dr Seth Giddings, Digital Cultures Research Centre, UWE

Download full details and project descriptions of the first set of successful applicants for the Digital R&D fund

As well as the new projects being announced, findings from the pilot programme have been published to emphasise the need for the industry to share successes and failings as it works together to find sustainable models for arts into the future. Each project had very different approaches having received funding to look at how they could use digital technology, combined with research, to extend their reach and offering.

Find out more about the eight pilot projects and download the reports

Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said: ‘Creating excellent art should be about taking risks, trying something new and learning from your mistakes. The Digital R&D fund provides the logistical and financial support to help organisations to get really creative and push boundaries by diving in to the digital world, which for many is uncharted waters.’

The £7 million Digital R&D fund for the Arts was launched by Arts Council England in partnership with Nesta and Arts and Humanities Research Council, to support research and development projects that use digital technology to enhance audience reach and explore new business models in the arts.

To find out more about the programme and to apply, please visit the Digital R&D website.

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