Arts Council joins the NBN bandwagon

Stuart Corner
Sunday, 18 December 2011 14:47

IT Industry - Development

The Australia Council for the Arts offering funding of $300,000 "pioneering ideas that show the cultural potential of next generation high-capacity broadband."

Through the Australia Council's Broadband Arts Initiative, visionary arts projects enabled by the NBN will be supported by an initial funding pool of $300,000, with funding of up to $100,000 available for individual projects.

Arts Council CEO, Kathy Keele, said: "We want to uncover teams of artists who have the bold ideas, technical expertise and strong partnerships to create online cultural experiences and content with the NBN."

Arts minister Simon Crean said it was welcome recognition by the Australia Council of the importance of connecting the talents in the creative industries with the potential of new technologies. "I have been a constant advocate and proponent for this potential, arguing that the NBN is the highway," Crean said.

"The creative industries are a key part of determining the vehicles that go on the highway. The access and applications are vital. "This is a core principle of the National Cultural Policy discussion paper."

The new initiative builds on the Australia Council's 'NBN Geeks in Residence' in which artistic 'geeks' acted as consultants to the local arts communities, assisting artists and arts organisations in their first interactions with the NBN.

Projects for funding under the Broadband Arts Initiative "can involve significant artistic and technical research over a year but should result in an outstanding art outcome for the public before June 2013," the Council said.

Expressions of interest are due by 15 February and funded projects will be starting from 1 May 2012. Details at www.australiacouncil.gov.au/broadbandarts.