Broadband Arts Initiative
For innovative arts projects enabled by the NBN
A grant of up to $100K for arts projects for high-capacity broadband
– Expressions of interest close 15 February 2012
– Invited applications will be assessed and decisions advised in April 2012
– Funded projects can start 1 May 2012
About the grant
Do you have ideas for a pioneering arts project with the National Broadband Network? Does your project demonstrate the potential of next generation high-capacity broadband?
With the Broadband Arts Initiative, the Australia Council for the Arts will support innovative arts projects that utilise next generation high-capacity broadband enabled by the NBN.
This initiative is part of the Australia Council's strategic priority to assist the arts sector build skills to maximise the benefits of the NBN, and support the creation of work enabled by and accessed through high-capacity broadband.
The Australia Council invites expressions of interest from artists, groups and organisations for ambitious arts projects which showcase the cultural potential of the NBN. Your proposal should complement the deployment of high-capacity broadband and be truly dependent on broadband infrastructure. This 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 NBN is significant for all aspects of the arts, with potential to:
- transform how we create, access and consume Australian arts and culture
- enable new ways for all Australian residents, no matter their life circumstances or location, to create and participate in the arts and enable the arts to help build stronger communities
- create more opportunities to distribute work through convergent platforms, bringing together film, gaming, TV, social media and the arts
- facilitate the creation and development of new arts practice that use high speed broadband
- enable artists and arts organisations to run their operations more efficiently and economically, allowing for increased resources for investment in the creation of work
- drive new business models in the arts including new ways to raise funds and access to global markets that are more cost effective
- enable the sector to enrich arts education by allowing greater use of online resources and increased collaboration beyond the classroom.
Contact
Potential applicants must discuss their proposal with the relevant Australia Council team member. For further information please contact:
Kevin du Preez
Arts Organisations Program Manager
Phone 02 9215 9015, Email k.dupreez@australiacouncil.gov.au
Kathryn Gray
Inter-Arts Program Officer
Phone 02 9215 9077, Email k.gray@australiacouncil.gov.au
For innovative arts projects enabled by the NBN
A grant of up to $100K for arts projects for high-capacity broadband
– Expressions of interest close 15 February 2012
– Invited applications will be assessed and decisions advised in April 2012
– Funded projects can start 1 May 2012
How to apply
Expressions of Interest for this round have now closed. An assessment meeting report outlining successful applications for this round will be published in May.
A small number of proposals that best addressed the selection criteria have be invited to submit a full application.
APPLICATION SUPPORTING MATERIALS
Follow these guidelines to ensure your application and support materials are eligible. This can include material you have previously submitted with your Expression of Interest, however it may be useful to update with further details.
You must submit all materials with your application by the closing date, including:
- example of previous work to illustrate your practice and proposal (up to three URL links per application required)
- curriculum vitae summary of all key artists/artsworkers involved (.pdf, maximum two A4 pages per application)
- confirmation letters (required) and support letters (optional) to demonstrate the planning and viability of your proposal (.pdf)
Please contact us if you require other accessible formats for your application, including word documents, audio disk, Braille, large print and Auslan (Australian Sign Language). Requests for translated materials will need to allow for a three week turnaround time, and specific requirements should be discussed with our Communications and Marketing team (comms@australiacouncil.gov.au Telephone: 02 9215 9199 or Toll Free 1800 226 912). For other ways to apply, please see the information on making an application in the Funding Guide for 2012.
For innovative arts projects enabled by the NBN
A grant of up to $100K for arts projects for high-capacity broadband
– Expressions of interest close 15 February 20122
– Invited applications will be assessed and decisions advised in April 2012
– Funded projects can start 1 May 2012
Eligibility
This initiative is open to individuals, groups and organisations. To be eligible, you must meet the general eligibility requirements and any specific eligibility requirements for the NBN Arts Initiative.
Eligible project locations Preference will be given to projects delivered in early NBN sites where the network has already been switched on or will be switched on in the next 12 months.
Projects that will be delivered in networks similar to the NBN must provide detail on the technology and how it compares to the NBN.
Projects can be delivered remotely (from locations outside the NBN) but must have a presentation component that must be delivered in an NBN connected site or a site with high capacity networks (such as a university or research network). Applicants are encouraged to find partners in NBN early sites for this type of project.
Selection criteria
Your proposal must demonstrate:- the artistic merit and innovation of the proposed project
- how your project will be enabled by or significantly enhanced by technology available only via high capacity broadband through the NBN. Projects must complement the deployment of high-capacity broadband and must be truly dependent on broadband infrastructure, particularly its high-capacity bandwidth, low latency and future ubiquitous nature
- how an audience (including users or consumers) will be engaging with the project and how high-capacity broadband plays a role in this engagement
- detail of the technical feasibility of the project, including whether it is most likely to be used over NBN fibre and/or NBN wireless and satellite solutions. You should also indicate plans (if any) to work with Internet Service Providers to deliver your content
- evidence that the project is well-planned, well-resourced and viable.
Selection process
The Australia Council will convene a panel of peers for this two-stage application process. Peers will assess expressions of interest against the selection criteria, and make formal recommendations to Council regarding which to invite to make full applications in March 2012. The panel will have expertise across digital culture, information and communications technology and infrastructure, artforms and regions.
For more information on the assessment process, please see the page on Assessment of applications in the Information for applicants section. If you are interested in being part of the assessment process, you can sign up for the Australia Council Register of Peers.
For innovative arts projects enabled by the NBN
A grant of up to $100K for arts projects for high-capacity broadband
– Expressions of interest close 15 February 2012
– Invited applications will be assessed and decisions advised in April 2012
– Funded projects can start 1 May 2012
General FAQs
Specific frequently asked questions (FAQs) relating to this grant are listed below. Please regularly check for updates as new questions may be published during the grant round. We recommend you also read the general FAQs for all grants and the FAQs for supporting materials submitted with your application.
Broadband Arts Initiative FAQs
What can I apply for?
Your expression of interest should outline an ambitious arts project to showcase the cultural potential of the NBN.
This initiative is to support large projects with funding of up to $100,000. Artistic teams are encouraged to seek suitable partners and co-funding to ensure their project makes effective connections with early NBN sites and engages broad audiences.
We encourage artistic teams to propose projects which which complement the deployment of high-capacity broadband and are truly dependent on broadband infrastructure, particularly its high-capacity bandwidth, low latency and future ubiquitous nature. This can involve significant artistic and technical research over a year, but should result in an outstanding art outcome for the public before June 2013.
How do I demonstrate the artistic merit and innovation of my proposal?
You should illustrate the excellence your past work and the strengths of your proposal with the support material you provide (up to 3 URLs), with the CV summary of participants (2 pages), and with a support letter from a leader in your sector. It is a good idea to contextualise your proposal by outlining how it relates to other leading artists and innovators in the field.
Your proposal could involve interdisciplinary, emerging or traditional artform practices, but you will need to have an innovative approach which integrates high-capacity broadband.
You should define what is innovative about your proposal, which could include methods of creating and/or distributing content; audience engagement/participation models; and new partnerships with relevant technology, service providers and/or cultural organisations.
How do I demonstrate that my project will be enabled by high capacity broadband and the technical feasibility of my proposal?
You will need to clearly outline what technology and platforms you will be working with and how it will be significantly enhanced by the NBN. Some questions you should consider include:
- What technical expertise do you have on your project team, and how will they be collaborating with you to develop the project and work with partners?
- How will you be working with Internet Service Providers, technology and media platforms to create and deliver your content?
- Does your project connect with the rollout of NBN sites in 2012-3 for content presentation, or are you working with other high-capacity broadband networks?
- Will you be using fibre, wireless and/or satellite technology to create and deliver your content?
You may find it useful to start by referring to an introduction to the NBN such as National Broadband Network: Guide for Consumers available on the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network website or to visit the NBN Co website.
Do I need to include artistic outcomes for the public in my proposal?
Yes, we encourage you to include plans for reaching wide audiences with your arts projects, to showcase the cultural potential of the NBN.
It is useful to outline the innovative way you plan to present your artistic content via online and/or live networked presentation. This may incorporate performances, exhibitions, forums, cross-platform broadcasting and events. You will need to describe how audiences (including users or consumers) will be engaging with the project, and how high-capacity broadband plays a role in this. You should consider which technology, service provider and arts organisations you will need to partner with, and how you will distribute, promote and evaluate these outcomes.
We aim to support pioneering broadband arts projects with public outcomes before June 2013, and preference will be given to proposals connected with early NBN sites.
How much should I apply for?
You can apply for up to $100,000 in your expression of interest. As we are encouraging innovative projects of large-scale and technical complexity, you are encouraged to identify partners and further potential co-funders to make your project viable. You do not have to include a budget in this expression of interest stage, but to indicate your initial estimate of funding required. In the second stage, invited applications will require a complete balanced budget.
How do I apply and how is my proposal assessed?
The Broadband Arts Initiative is a two-stage application process. First you submit your online expression of interest by 15 February. A panel of peers with artistic and technical expertise will review expressions of interest against the selection criteria. They will identify who will be invited to submit a full application via the online system. The peers will assess these applications against the selection criteria, and make recommendation to the Australia Council regarding the successful grant recipients. All applicants will be notified regarding their proposals and the results announced on the Australia Council website in April 2012.
Grant
Broadband Arts Initiative
Artform
Inter-arts; Arts organisations
Expression of Interest
01 January 2003
Closing date
15 February 2012
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