Sky Arts Ignition Fund

Arts organisations invited to apply at www.sky.com/skyartsignition

Sky is to expand further its support for the arts in the UK and Ireland with the launch of a major new programme to support new arts projects and emerging artists. The programme involves the creation of a new arts fund, Sky Arts Ignition, with two distinct and complementary strands: The Sky Arts Ignition Series and Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund.

The Sky Arts Ignition Series will seek to collaborate with six arts organisations over the next three years in the creation of brand new works. For each of the chosen projects, Sky Arts will provide a cash investment of up to £200,000 and work with the arts partners to bring their projects to a wider audience, using Sky’s platform. The Series is the latest development in Sky’s ongoing commitment to broadening access to the arts across the country, and will represent an investment of over £1million.

The Sky Arts Ignition Series seeks to work closely with as yet unselected artists and arts organisations, in order to equip both organisations and broadcasters with a true understanding of each other’s process, combining their expertise to produce the best possible work and offering a unique support system in which to develop and produce brand new projects. Sky Arts, in partnership with the organisations, will determine how best Sky can give the project prominence on-air, on demand, online and on the ground, as well as providing marketing, publicity and new media support for each project.

Applications are now open at www.sky.com/skyartsignition. Further details of the Series are outlined on the site, along with full guidelines for entries. The application call closes on 31 May 2011.