A new South Yorkshire-based initiative called Melt, whose backers include the BBC, Channel 4 and Pact, will be handing out£1m to producers using new technology.
A new South Yorkshire-based initiative called Melt, whose backers include the BBC, Channel 4 and Pact, will be handing out£1m to producers using new technology.

Grants of up to£50,000 will be given to the best proposals for creative programming that use new media platforms such as mobile phones, broadband, digital TV and satellite technology.

The scheme, which was launched yesterday (28 July), is open to the UK creative industries and includes broadcast products. The deadline for submissions is 14 October.

The project is being managed by media arts agency The Culture Company with funding from Yorkshire Forward, Objective 1 South Yorkshire and the Arts Council in partnership with Screen Yorkshire. It is being supported by the BBC, C4 and Pact.

South Yorkshire-based companies with content ideas will be fast-tracked for support but will not be given any final preference when it comes to funding.

The Culture Company has previously produced the award-winning Shooting Live Artists initiative with the BBC, which encouraged online arts projects.

The£1m of actual funding could support as many as 1,000 projects over the next three years, but grants for the converging technology projects are expected to be spread thicker than the£1,000 minimum.

Further details can be found at www.love-melt.co.uk.

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