Two Australia Council programs are now inviting digital enthusiasts to get more creative in the new digital era.
Launched today at the Revealing the Arts conference – dedicated to building arts content on digital mediums  – Geek in Residence and the Digital Culture Fund will support artists and technicians in developing each other’s skills and creativity.

“The explosion of these mediums gives artists so many new opportunities to explore how inclusive creative experiences can be delivered,” said Kathy Keele, Chief Executive of the Australia Council for the Arts. “These platforms can be used to promote and deliver more arts experiences, but artists are also making work more attuned to the character and experience of the medium itself.”

Geek in Residence and the Digital Culture Fund are part of the Australia Council’s strategic priority to increase the creation, distribution, preservation and enjoyment of Australian arts content across all digital platforms.

Geek in Residence brings the expertise of technically confident artists and creative technicians together with a host organisation. The pilot program will seed innovative digital arts practices by providing artists and technicians with the opportunity to share their skills, ideas and experiences.

The Digital Culture Fund is a pilot grant program available to practitioners who are experienced working creatively with digital technologies. The Australia Council is asking initially for expressions of interest from these new creators working at the frontier of digital technology. With a strong focus on the ‘live event’, the ultimate arts projects could exist in either physical or online worlds.

For more information visit the Arts content for a digital era blog, www.artsdigitalera.com

The two new funding programs were launched at the Revealing the Arts – a two-day conference of arts leaders to uncover arts opportunities within the digital era. The think-tank is a milestone in a significant partnership between the Australia Council and the ABC to build more digital opportunities for artists.

“We are helping artists explore and exploit new applications, but also building a more immediate access to Australian arts for audiences,” said Kathy Keele.

Also launched today is Arts on the Map – revealing information and stories from 185 arts organisations across the nation through Google Earth, available at www.australiacouncil.gov.au and also available at the ABC’s new Gateway site.

Kim Dalton, ABC Director of Television, says the Australia Council partnership will continue to connect audiences and artists in innovative ways.         

“ABC TV’s new digital arts gateway will provide the most comprehensive online site for the arts in the country, and we will build upon such successes as ABC2 Live Presents, to ensure audiences can take full advantage of ABC TV’s multi-platform delivery to enjoy and be entertained by art in many forms.”

http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/news/news_items/supporting_a_new_breed_of_digital_pioneers