Current programmes
The Space was awarded Arts Council Investment Principle Support Organisation (IPSO) status in April 2023. IPSO organisations work across the arts, cultural and heritage sectors to help organisations and individuals embed the Investment Principles within their work.
As an ISPO we provide a national programme of digital skills development and commissioning support. Our aim is to enhance the arts and cultural sector’s dynamism, enabling them to innovate their business models and explore new routes to audience engagement via digital content creation and distribution.
Funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund has enabled us to support an ambitious 18-month programme of digital development and support for a network of nine Highlands and Islands organisations. The pioneering 18-month programme aims to transform how rural museums and heritage organisations across Scotland’s Highlands and Islands engage with audiences through digital innovation.
BFI and Arts Council England nvestment has allowed us to establish a new Libraries Digital Network. The network is empowering local communities and supporting library to maximise digital opportunities by offering VR experiences and helping local libraries inspire, connect, and innovate.
We are also working with The Sky Arts Foundation is supporting delivery of the Julia Rausing Sky Arts bursaries. 20 artists will receive funding, mentoring, professional development and a national platform to create ambitious new work and take the next step in their careers.
Read our Reflections Report
The current programme includes
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Digital commissions
A national programme of digital cultural content commissions reflecting the diversity of contemporary England. Commissions are awarded by open call and support innovation and further learning through sector case studies. Successful applicants receive both funding and practical support to produce their digital creative content.
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Strategic mentoring
In-depth advice and support tailored to organisations’ skills, experience and cultural specialisms. Mentored organisations or groups of individuals receive mentoring and peer learning sessions aimed at increasing their confidence and skills with digital content strategy.
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Responsive advice
Sessions for organisations and individuals covering topics on digital strategy, online audience development and content production.
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Online support
Free webinars, online case studies, articles, toolkits and podcasts covering topics such as digital rights, online accessibility and measuring digital impact.
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Broadcast development
Connecting ideas and talent from the cultural sector with UK broadcast commissioners, acquisition teams and producers. We develop broadcast opportunities for under-represented voices, regions and smaller organisations. Examples include the Sky Arts Musical Masterpieces, Channel 4’s Museum of Us, and Rambert’s production of Peaky Blinders which was broadcast on BBC TV on New Year’s Day 2024.
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Digital distribution support
Helping present the best of English digital culture internationally via our relationships with British Council, other international arts councils and digital platforms.
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Individual freelance support
Prioritising inclusivity and inclusive skills development amongst our network of freelance associates.
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Black Country talent development
A programme in partnership with Creative Black Country to identify new talent and provide mentoring, commissions, production and distribution support to artists in Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell. Creatives are being supported to make and distribute short form audio/video/interactive creative content.
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Digital Culture Talks
Our annual Digital Culture Talks create time to explore the role of digital creativity and its ability to inspire, inform and entertain audiences. They feature keynote talks from speakers across the cultural sector and thought-provoking panel discussions from artists, industry leaders and academics.
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Navigating Digital Change
A programme to help cultural leaders in England explore what digital transformation means for them and their organisations and to consider practical ways to make it happen.
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Digital cultural content evaluation:
A research project to establish a more systematic sector wide approach to measuring and evaluating the cultural value of digital content and experiences.
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Createch Frontiers
A 5-year £7.2 million project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. It aims to support creative businesses, cultural organisations, artists to co-create new ideas, explore cutting-edge technologies, and build a stronger, more connected CreaTech ecosystem across the West Midlands.
The Highland and Islands Digital Heritage Network
The Space and Museums and Heritage Highland are supporting a network of nine Highlands and Islands organisations with a an ambitious 18-month programme of digital development
The pioneering 18-month programme received a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to transform how rural museums and heritage organisations across Scotland’s Highlands and Islands engage with audiences through digital innovation.
The Highland and Islands Digital Heritage Network is a national pilot, building digital capacity within the rural heritage sector, supporting creativity and experimentation, and connecting museums with wider audiences and with each other.
The programme aims to:
- Make heritage democratic, removing barriers to accessing rural collections, such as cost of travel, distance, and disability.
- Improve the digital representation of rural heritage to diversify audiences.
- Preserve and safeguard heritage at risk of loss by working with communities and creative partners to reimagine the relevance of collections today.
- Create models of digital engagement that can be shared across Scotland and the wider UK heritage sector.
Digital Spaces in Libraries
In association with Arts Council England and the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, The Space is delivering Digital Spaces, an ambitious programme delivering an array of digital experiences in libraries, ranging from awe-inspiring VR showcases, hands-on immersive filmmaking community masterclasses and funding opportunities for libraries to create new digital content.
Designed to transform the way communities interact with digital creativity, the programme which launched in 2025, is maximising opportunities to help local libraries inspire, connect, and innovate.
This forward-thinking initiative is a collaboration among nine library services — Bradford, Cambridgeshire, Coventry, Leeds, Manchester, Newham, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, and Sunderland — establishing a new Libraries Digital Network. This groundbreaking network is the first of its kind, blending local relevance with national impact. It is empowering local communities, supported by comprehensive training for library staff to guide users through exciting digital journeys.
The Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries
Funders and partners: The Julia Rausing Trust, The Sky Foundation, Sky Arts
A new bursary programme from the Sky Foundation, funded by The Julia Rausing Trust, for artists in the UK.
The Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries, is a Sky Foundation programme is designed to support artists who needs the time, confidence and opportunity to create.
The initiative will support outstanding artists with the funding, mentoring and platform they need to bring a creative passion project to life and help take them to the next stage in their careers. In 2027, the Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries will focus on dance.
The Space is partnering with the Sky Foundation to support the delivery of the Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries programme.