Art of Digital

Fancy applying for up to £15,000 of funding? This bonus episode of The Space arts podcast whizzes you through what the application process involves.

In short: Arts or creative industries organisations, or individual artists/creative practitioners based in England are invited to apply for one of ten digital R&D commissions.

Apply here: www.thespace.org Deadline is 5pm Thursday 13th June 2024.

Email [email protected] or call 0121 663 1488 if you need support to access or complete the application form.

Time codes (Listen in full, or break up into chapters! Just like a book!):

03:20 Chapter 1: Fiona Morris - Chief Executive and Creative Director 

Who and what The Space is

What the commissioners are looking for

15:28 Chapter 2: Harmeet Chagger Khan - Exec Producer, Digital and Innovation

What do we mean by digital innovation, immersive and interactive? Including examples of previously commissioned works.

What is the story you want to tell? What is the experience you want to create? What value will it have? And why will audiences care?

26:31 Chapter 3: Sarah Butcher - Exec Producer, Capture and Film content

What is ‘capture’?

Reimagining your audience when adapting works for screen

A few words on digital rights clearance

36:11 Chapter 4: Rob Lindsay - Head of Programmes 

How The Space supports the arts sector; webinars, commissioning, mentoring

Trends and how the type of work being commissioned has evolved since the pandemic

If you don’t have all the answers, that’s OK! Flag them during the application.

What your budget can and can’t include

51:57 Chapter 5: Rosanna Chianta - Head of Content Distribution and Audience Metrics

Think about your audience right from the beginning of idea development

You decide how success will be measured

Defining a digital project or digital audience

The benefit of distribution partnerships.

Good luck!

What’s the value of creating a distribution plan? How can you find potential partners to extend your reach? And how can you make the best of your own social media channels?

This ‘Cup of Tea Conversation’ features Sarah Fortescue, Head of Distribution, The Space; Dom Kennedy, Digital Arts Consultant; Linda Cockburn, Programme Manager, The Space.

Whether you’re interested in sharing new content, or presenting the best of your work to an online audience, our speakers share current thinking, and ideas on how to maximise the impact of your content online.

This recording is taken from The Space webinar series, which you can watch in full online (including Dom’s presentation about distribution plans): Distributing your work online

For access to The Space’s online audiences toolkit, visit: thespace.org/resource/spaces-online-audiences-toolkit 

The Space arts podcast is presented by Clare Savory. The Space is a UK digital commissioning and development agency for the arts and cultural sector, an independent not for profit organisation founded by Arts Council England and the BBC in 2014.

At the heart of everything Creative Black Country does are people. And place.

Sajida Carr is one of the directors of CBC - an organisation which enjoys making the most of this unique part of the West Midlands region through arts and creativity.

This ‘Cup of Tea Conversation’ features Rob Lindsay, Head of Programmes at The Space

and Sajida Carr, Director of Operations and Development at Creative Black Country.

Together they tackle the topic of community collaboration, discussing the role of the enabler and facilitator, as well as how to build trust and keep the work relevant. 

This recording is taken from The Space webinar series, which you can watch in full online: Working with communities

For information on Creative Black Country’s short film series ‘100 Masters’ read:

thespace.org/resource/creative-black-country’s-100-masters 

To find out more about Creative Black Country, visit creativeblackcountry.co.uk

The Space arts podcast is presented by Clare Savory. The Space is a UK digital commissioning and development agency for the arts and cultural sector, an independent not for profit organisation founded by Arts Council England and the BBC in 2014.

The vision for Robert and his team at Lancashire-based Culturapedia is to be the go-to company for engaging audiences in fabulous cultural offerings online, outdoors, or on their doorstep.

During lockdown, they began to explore sharing content digitally. It's a trend they’ve decided to continue with as the global pandemic has eased. But the team have noticed the way they programme digital content needs a different approach to their rural touring projects. A process that is evolving and growing as they go.

This ‘Cup of Tea Conversation’ features Rob Lindsay, Head of Programmes at The Space and Robert Howell, Director at Culturapedia.

It’s taken from The Space webinar series, which you can watch in full online: Working with communities

Some of the highlights include how to measure success during a digital project, understanding what ‘digital poverty’ really means and how to spot the positives of Zoom calls.

For information on Culturapedia’s Spot On Stories short film series and partnership with The Space and Lancashire Libraries, read thespace.org/resource/finding-new-audiences-spot-stories

To find out more about Culturapedia, visit culturapedia.co/

The Space arts podcast is presented by Clare Savory. The Space is a UK digital commissioning and development agency for the arts and cultural sector, an independent not for profit organisation founded by Arts Council England and the BBC in 2014.

“What we do is all about connection. Connecting people, things and subject matter. With the gimmick of having a caravan, people can’t resist asking what is it? What’s in there?!”

Jan Williams shares her insights into how her and partner Chris Teasdale celebrate people and places with their photography and artwork - with, by and for local communities.

This ‘Cup of Tea Conversation’ features Rob Lindsay, Head of Programmes at The Space

And Jan Williams, Director and Artist, The Caravan Gallery.

It’s taken from The Space webinar series, which you can watch in full online: Working with communities

To find out more about the Tile Hill Pride of Place Project (Coventry Libraries/Digital Spaces present), visit Jan and Chris’s website: thecaravangallery.photography or listen to the Digital Spaces present podcast series!

The Space arts podcast is presented by Clare Savory. The Space is a UK digital commissioning and development agency for the arts and cultural sector, an independent not for profit organisation founded by Arts Council England and the BBC in 2014.

Fancy applying for funding? This bonus episode of The Space Arts Podcast whizzes you through what we’re looking for, what we’re not looking for and an insight into what the application process involves...

A more formal written document is also available to accompany this episode on our website: thespace.org

Applications are welcomed from arts or cultural organisations registered in England, or museums and libraries working on projects with an arts focus.

Proposals must be submitted by 12 noon, Thursday 8th July 2021.

Drop us an email to [email protected] or call 0121 663 1488 if you need any support to access, complete or submit the application form.

Good luck!

Time code chapters:

03:50 What we’re looking for

Presented by Fiona Morris and Clare Freeman, plus additional wise words with Rob Lindsay.

When the recording studios shut and the music halls closed their curtains in March 2020, Soumik Datta was left twiddling his thumbs wondering…what now? And then an opening appeared as part of the BBC Arts commissioning round for Culture In Quarantine.

Soumik’s series ‘Sounds of Silence’ was one of just 25 ideas given the green light, as a five-part story exploring the impact of lockdown on musicians across the UK.

Sharing the lessons learnt during his first exploration into radio and podcasting, sarod player Soumik details how The Space offers artists more than just financial backing. His project was supported by Clare and BBC Radio 3 in its shaping and distribution.

For more about Soumik Datta: https://www.soumikdatta.com/

Listen to Soumik’s series ‘Sounds of Silence’ via the BBC Sounds app: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ls89/episodes/player

Resources referenced during this podcast:

How to start a podcast:

Podcast case study: A Mile In My Shoes, The Empathy Museum.

Presented by Fiona Morris and Clare Freeman.

Music: Jangal & Plantations - written & performed by Soumik Datta/published by Bucks Music Group Ltd

For more about The Space, visit thespace.org