NET RESULTS:Grants are available for the application of easy to use technologies to promote Irish culture, writes KARLIN LILLINGTON

CALLING ALL smartphone app developers, website developers, social networkers, mash-up creators – here’s a grant scheme that is bound to pique your interest.

In the midst of all the competing news last week, a great Government initiative to help fund small technology-related projects that help promote Irish culture and tourism got a bit lost in the Nama noise.

The scheme deserves another plug because it is modest but practical, and promises to produce some very good returns on some relatively small investments.

And it is the kind of inclusive, creativity-encouraging initiative that could also be duplicated across other departments with good effect.

The project was launched at the start of last week when Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin announced a new “cultural technology” grant scheme designed to align with the department’s previously stated goal “to enhance and recognise the social and economic role of the arts, culture and film sectors”.

The intention is to support creators of mobile apps, websites, web applications, mash-ups – just about anything that uses communication technologies over mobile networks or the internet to deliver a service or information focusing on arts and culture with a tourism angle.

The exact wording for the type of thing they are thinking about notes that projects “should seek to create, develop, design and/or exploit information and communication technologies and modern communication tools that can deliver a promotional, educational, or information product to promote Irish arts and culture, all its forms and/or Irish cultural and arts organisation(s).”

The brief goes on to add that projects “should be unique, use an established method or means of channel or broadband distribution, be user-friendly and, to the greatest extent possible, be future proofed”.

Nice and simple, with plenty of scope for formats, techniques, content and creativity.

I also like that this isn’t just about organisations and contracts, but about the thoughtful individual that might come up with a great idea too.

Among the four “strands” of funding applicants envisaged by the scheme (which include the mainstream arts and culture organisations as well as smaller groups or partnerships) are listed “individuals who wish to develop information and communication technologies to promote the arts, culture and creative sector output in Ireland and internationally in a compelling and creative way”.

That means that anyone, anywhere can apply for a grant to develop an interesting service, site or application. It’s an unusual inclusion for a State-driven funding initiative but is smart in recognising that some of the best websites and applications come out of a single person.

For those who already have developed apps, sites or services that fit the bill, such funding might enable an enhancement or expansion of the existing service.

For others this kind of support should be a spur to develop an intriguing new project.

Maybe a set of podcasts one can download while at a tourist location. Maybe a link to videos or documents or graphics or animations relating to a film, a historical site, local musicians and music styles. Maybe self-guided tours. Maybe a pointer to traditional music pubs in a region. Maybe an urban cultural safari. Maybe a science or nature or arts-related walking tour. It is truly an open call.

What I like about this scheme is that it spots a very fertile area – the application of easy to use technologies to bring people to the arts and cultural riches within Ireland – and doesn’t bypass the grassroots source of so much existing and potential creativity in that overlap.

This isn’t about large organisations and big grants. It’s about adept and agile applications that might come from the Arts Council or a student with an idea, a major web developer company or a lone programmer who likes film, opera or round towers.

I also like that such funding – and formal project recognition by a Government department – can serve to enhance the CV of an individual or company and create a showcase site or technology for them. In a small but significant way the State becomes the client of small enterprises that potentially can use that recognition to grow and develop further. I’d love to see such an approach, on a larger scale, extended to our indigenous software companies more generally, but that’s a topic for another day.

Deadlines are tight – individuals or organisations need to file their applications by September 15th – so if this is the kind of scheme to spark your imagination get thinking.

And kudos to Ms Hanafin and her department for spearheading such a smart, simple and inclusive initiative.

I look forward to seeing what comes out of it, and hope other departments will take note.

More information: http://short.ie/0oqyst