Sky steps in with new funding for artistic excellence

Sky is extending its support for the arts in the UK and Ireland with a new £1m programme to support new arts projects and emerging artists. A new arts fund, Sky Arts Ignition, has been earmarked for the media organisation to collaborate with six arts organisations over the next three years to create new work. For each of the chosen projects, Sky Arts will invest up to £200,000 and work with the arts partners to reach a wider audience through their media channels. The initiative will be involve as yet unselected artists and arts organisations, and will aim to give arts organisations and broadcasters a better understanding of each other’s process, combining their expertise to produce the best possible work. Sky Arts will aim to give the project prominence “on-air, on demand, online and on the ground”, and will provide marketing, publicity and new media support for each project.

In parallel with these projects, a ‘Futures Fund’ has been set up to help talented young artists to bridge the development gap from school or college to becoming a working artist. Five individuals will receive a bursary of £30,000 each. These new funds further builds Sky’s reputation an established supporter of the arts, and follow on from the success of projects such as Antony’s Gormley’s One & Other, long running partnerships with organisations such as The Hay Festival, and the recent publication of Building Innovative Arts Partnerships, a Sky Arts report exploring new models for corporate investment in the arts.
John Cassy, Director of Sky Arts, said: “The arts are thriving creatively in the UK but money is tight, so if we can do our bit to help create new works and give them a platform, we’ll be happy. Applications are now open and we cannot wait to hear some of the ideas.” Applications are now open at the Sky Arts Ignition Series website, and are open to arts organisations based in the UK and Ireland who are recognised for their artistic excellence. Sky is looking for projects with an innovative or groundbreaking approach to the arts; projects which enable more people to experience and be inspired by the arts; and projects which enable Sky to add value and bring them to a wider audience – they must have the ability to be scaled to achieve national reach and impact across the UK or Ireland.