Updates
4iP: Smoke and mirrors or the saviour of digital?
"The hunt is on for rule-breaking, far-seeing producers and partners who share 4iP’s vision for re-inventing the way public service media is developed, commissioned, funded and delivered in the UK".
What is 4iP? The saviour of digital? Smoke and Mirrors? "4iP is the greatest opportunity you will have to develop digitally native projects". Am listening to Steve Manthorp at the AmbITion Roadshow who is NOT 4iP, but works in parallel with them on the Arts Council West Midlands Digital Content Development Fund. He is about to share his insight with us:
The criteria for 4iP funding is very specific; they invest in public service digital projects which deliver wide value. Average 4iP grants are around £50k but they also have development/prototype grants of 10k for innovative new ideas. They do fund profit-making ideas and will "amplify existing products so they demonstrably deliver greater impact" AND in exceptional (really quite exceptional) cases they will offer start-up funding or working capital.
Ideas must deliver against 4's public purpose, make trouble in a 4-like fashion, meet user need and be collaborative and participative. 4iP is not a fund for making TV or creating "360 degree" experiences for TV formats (and they aren't crazy to hear about any more iPhone apps). Current emphasis is around empowerment, bringing people together and giving them the opportunity to demand or make change. There will be a new emphasis announced in the Autumn (which is likely to include cultural and heritage).
You can apply at www.4ip.org.uk, there is only six boxes to complete but they are pretty tight on word limit. So write everything you want to say and cut it back til it fits. Most important is check out your competition. The clever people at 4iP are pretty capable when it comes to things like googling, so be clear and honest about who else is out there doing similar things.
Projects which exemplify stuff that 4iP approves of (though they aren't actually funded by them) are Crowdspring and Imaginationcubed. The brilliant Audioboo is one of the first project to be funded (although its no secret that it was quite high up on their funding slate pre-4iP).