DIGITAL CULTURE – A CREATIVE EUROPE PROJECT PROPOSAL 1. AIM OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT The aim of this project is to develop a transnational partnership which integrates digital innovations within the cultural sector, stimulating audience engagement and better access and interpretation of material culture, attractions, history, landscape and heritage (including intangible heritage). The project will aim to develop new approaches across a wide geographical spread of project partners and will further cultural exchanges and professional development through events planned in each participating country. The scope of this project could include:    

Cultural and intangible heritage – including social history, language, art, crafts, music, song, dance Museums and collections – including objects, buildings which link to our cultural identity Libraries and archives – including documents and books Built heritage – including monuments, archaeological sites, cities, landscapes

Specific objectives of the Creative Europe Cooperation Projects are outlined in point 5 2. THE NEED During the past few years, new technologies have made huge leaps in digital innovation, including digital reconstructions, touch and gesture controlled technology, mobile and tablet apps, augmented reality and gaming. It is vital that the European cultural and creative sectors continue to integrate digital developments into their working practices and to stay at the forefront of innovation and creativity. This project aims to demonstrate how collaborative transnational projects can be used by the cultural and heritage sectors can develop new markets, increase audience and allow better access and interpretation of culture. Digital innovations can enable access to cultural and creative works to a wide range of people, this could include the special needs of those with learning or physical disabilities, children and young people and underrepresented groups. Developing new and innovative ways to engage with audiences, this project will help cultural organisations attract and retain new audiences, improve their experiences, and deepen the relationship with them.

3. OUTCOMES Definitive outcomes will be decided through detailed discussions with project partners, however initial ideas could include:   

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New digital products, for example 3D models, games, apps International cross sector events and festivals, for example musical/ theatrical performances which include digital content, touring events and exchanges. Digital platforms to support international audience development as a means to improve access and interest in European cultural and creative works, and tangible and intangible cultural heritage Dissemination network to share best practice, and facilitate international networking Providing positive visibility to Europe's values and different cultures, thus creating greater awareness and helping increase citizens' sense of identification with the EU.

4. PARTNERSHIP Lead Partner: Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) is a private, charitable company established in 2004 to co-ordinate and champion heritage the East of England. Recognised in the UK government’s vision statement for the historic environment as one of its best practice case studies, HEART has worked with international bodies such as the World Bank in Washington, the European Union and ICOMOS. HEART co-ordinate, regenerate and promote our region’s heritage in order for it to act as a vehicle for social and economic regeneration. HEART has delivered a wide range of highprofile European projects with international partners, including: 

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Digital Heritage – working in partnership with two major film archives on both sides of the channel, East Anglian Film Archive and Memoire Audiovisuelle HauteNormandie to bring the archives alive – co funded by Interreg IVA France (Channel) England SHAPING 24 – a pioneering cultural heritage tourism initiative in partnership with Stad Ghent. Co-funded by Interreg Two Seas Programme

As lead partner in the Interreg 2 Seas funded SHAPING 24, HEART have extensive experience in managing and delivering European co-operation projects. The Digital 24 strand of this project developed a digital strategy, working extensively with the University of East Anglia and a number of businesses in the creative sector to deliver a range of innovative digital products:  Virtual reality modelling of sites and areas in different period in history  An online game  A touch table and new historic database  A smart/ android phone app  Avatar films  Signage totems including downloadable content

Ostend Ostend has been involved in the Interreg Two Seas Programme IVA, HMS project. They renovated the City museum developed a digital, gps guided maritime tour of the city: see (http://www.oostende.be/vereniging.aspx?id=337) Ostend has expertise in:    

Website development Making information accessible online through databases Digital interpretation at museums and heritage sites Use of social media to increase audience and promote tourism visits

Ostend have extensive expertise in improving accessibility of the culture and heritage of the region through digital innovation. Martine Meire, Director of Culture sees the issues as follows: ‘Our digital tool is just one of the many ways of exploring a city. It would be interesting to investigate scientifically the pros and cons of the different systems, based on what the cluster partners have realised in the past. It also opens a gate to the future what devices are there to stay and be further developed? What are outdated and will become obsolete? The smartphone will outnumber the pc in 2016: also non-commercial organisations need to invest in the possibilities of this technology and use them to their advantage.’

5. CREATIVE EUROPE OBJECTIVES The main specific objectives of the European Co-operation Projects as set out on the Programme Guidelines EAC/S16/2013 are: 

To support the capacity of the European cultural and creative sectors to operate transnationally and internationally and to promote the transnational circulation of cultural and creative works and transnational mobility of cultural and creative players, in particular artists: -

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supporting actions providing cultural and creative players with skills, competencies and know-how that contribute to strengthening the cultural and creative sectors, including encouraging adaption to digital technologies, testing innovative approaches to audience development and testing new business and management models; supporting actions enabling cultural and creative players to cooperate internationally and to internationalise their careers and activities in the Union and beyond; providing support to strengthen European cultural and creative organisations and international networking in order to facilitate access to professional opportunities

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To contribute to audience development by helping European artists/ cultural professionals and their works reach new and enlarges audiences and improve access to cultural and creative works in the EU and beyond, with particular focus on children, young people, people with disabilities and underrepresented groups, by engaging in new and innovative ways with audiences both to retain and enlarge them, and to improve the experience and deepen the relationship with current and future audience: -

supporting international cultural activities, such as for instance touring events, exhibitions, exchanges and festivals;

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supporting the circulation of European literature with a view to ensuring the widest possible accessibility;

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supporting audience development as a means of stimulating interest in and improving access to European cultural and creative works and tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

To contribute to innovation and creativity in the field of culture, for instance through artistic innovation, the testing of new business models, the use of digital technologies and the promotion of innovative spill-overs on other sectors; 6. TARGETED PARTNERS

In addition we are looking for interested partners to join this exciting project. Norwich HEART will take on the project lead and we wish to apply for Category 2 – Larger Scale Cooperation Projects -which involve a project leader and at least five other partners having their legal seat in at least six different countries taking part in the Culture Subprogramme. The maximum EU funding is EURO 2 000 000. We particularly wish to involve partners from North, South and East European countries in the eligible states. More information on this funding stream can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/culture/creative-europe/documents/calls/guidelines-call-forproposals-eac-s16-2013_en.pdf 7. KEY DATES March/ April – Interested partners to respond April – First contact meeting (possibly Brussels) May/ June – Project development with regular contact between partners July - Second contact meeting to discuss the bid October – Submission of the bid to Creative Europe March 2015 – Decision from Creative Europe June 2015 – Project starts

8. CONTACTS Norwich HEART Jo Archer

e: [email protected]

t: +44 01603 599576

Madeleine Coupe

e: [email protected]

t: +44 01603 599570