Interactive screens next to exhibits give visitors the opportunity to post comments, while QR codes offer access to more information through mobile phones.

You can find out more about the project and its outcomes in the video below:

Claire Ross of University College London explained: ‘it’s not just about the museum broadcasting out, it’s about having a discussion, and that’s what we were trying to do with the mobile aspect.’

The £7 million Digital R&D fund for the arts is a partnership between Arts Council England, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Nesta. Find out how to apply:www.artsdigitalrnd.org.uk.

Short video making resources

A presentation by Mark Batey on making short videos highlights the key points to consider and suggests video production equipment, while Colin Savage deconstructs a film in this video, offering further insight into video production.

Planning and producing a short video

Key points to consider when producing a short video include considering what the main question is you’re looking to answer and ensuring the most intriguing elements of a video are featured early to capture the audience. This will help you construct what shots you need to film and how to structure them in the edit.

The value and importance of planning is another vital aspect of producing a video. Each shot should lead viewers along with the story and ‘continually ask the viewer questions’ to keep them watching.

A combination of presenter led sections, voiceovers and interviews adds depth and contrast to films to make them as engaging as possible. All these aspects need to be scripted and set-out in detail before going out on location to film.

Filming a ‘headshot’ interview and sequences

Key considerations for filming interviews are: lighting, sound, position of the interviewee on screen (eye-line and ‘looking room’), background and focus. More details and guidance on filming interviews can be found on the BBC Academy's College of Production website.

Close-up shots, mid-shots and wide shots are used to form video sequences that combine to give depth, variety and interest. The BBC Academy's College of Journalism website has further information.

Other helpful tips include using on-screen graphics and photographic stills as alternative media to incorporate into videos, whilst always bearing in mind the length of the video and the intended audience.

Watch the video below to find out more:

Leila Johnston, a participating technologist, says of her experience: ‘…there are really productive ways for technologists and artists to work together and there are huge overlaps in the way that we work and the things we’re interested in.’

The £7 million Digital R&D Fund for the Arts is a partnership between Arts Council England, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Nesta. Find out how to apply: www.artsdigitalrnd.org.uk.

They created ‘Culture Cloud’, an online hub which allowed artists to upload their artwork and share it with galleries and members of the public. The public were then allowed to vote for their favourite artworks to appear in a physical exhibition at New Art Exchange.

You can find out more about the project and its outcomes in the video below:

Skinder Hundal, Chief Executive, New Art Exchange, says of the resulting exhibition: ‘I’ve never seen the space the way it is, it’s a crazy mix of narratives, different perspectives, different cultures, different dimensions and mediums of art…’

The £7 million Digital R&D Fund for the Arts is a partnership between Arts Council England, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Nesta. Find out how to apply: www.artsdigitalrnd.org.uk.

This free event will explore the nature of collaborative technology relationships, risk taking and knowledge sharing in the arts informed by the experience of various initiatives including, but not restricted to, the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts.

Schedule and speakers

User-generated content and social media; distribution and exhibition; mobile, location and games; and data and archives will be discussed in a mix of panel, conversational and streamed sessions.

The forum will be chaired by arts and culture broadcaster and journalist John Wilson and will include addresses from Geoff Mulgan, Chief Executive, Nesta, Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England and Rick Rylance, Chief Executive, Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Other speakers include: Tim Plyming, Head of Digital, British Museum; Laura Sillers, Artistic Director, Site Gallery; Sharna Jackson, Tate Kids Editor, Tate Media; and Paul Bennun from Somethin' Else and ArtAngel. We will also be hearing from some of the Digital R&D fund's eight pilot projects.

For more information and to book visit the Digital R&D in the Arts Forum event page

Find out more and apply for the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts

Listen to our Digital R&D podcasts

Paul Cutts, Chief Executive, Exhibition road Cultural Group says of the app: ‘It’s not a tool which gives an in-depth insight into Dickens’ novels or his working methods, but it uses themes and characters from Dickens’ ‘ time to illustrate social issues and ideas which are still of relevance to contemporary audiences today.’

The Digital R&D fund is open for application now, find out how to apply.

Download top tips for recording a podcast.  

Last month I joined arts professionals at the Building digital capacity podcasting workshop to hear from three organisations which record their own shows.

Recording a studio discussion – BBC CoP Show

The BBC College of Production Cop Show, a series of 20-odd minute studio discussions useful for anyone taking on a recording project. CoP editor Paul Buller advises taking a brutal approach to editing your podcast, establishing a clear aim and then discarding anything that doesn’t fit the bill.

CoP’s aim is to provide practical advice for listeners but witnessing the full recording of the studio discussion we did hear bits of really interesting conversation which didn’t meet that aim. Editing decisions must have been tough but it was evident on listening to the final cut that this clear focus is one of the main reasons the show works so well. 

Listen to the BBC CoP Show podcasts which include tips for recording a podcast

Presenting your live events - Bookslam

Presenting an event is the focus for Bookslam podcast producer Becky Jacobs who told us about how their live literary event is packaged into a popular magazine-style show. Using excerpts from the events mixed with exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with authors, the podcasts expands the Bookslam audience and additionally allows the organisation to keep an archive of their shows.

Becky’s top tip was to cut costs by getting someone in your organisation to present your podcast. Bookslam use founder Patrick Neate whose light-hearted off-the-cuff commentary gives the show its unique style.

Listen to the full archive of Bookslam podcasts

A sitcom on a shoestring – Live from Kirrin Island

Kirrin Island creator Alison Pritchard works with a team of comedy writers to record a hugely successful podcast from her mother’s living room, with a budget of just £600 for the past six shows.

The money was mainly spent on up-front-costs for recording equipment (not including the essential laptop which she already owned). The main thing I gathered from Alison is that she’s hugely committed to producing the show - the lack of budget means that she has to focus a lot of her time on getting things done.

Listen to Live from Kirrin Island

Download the Building digital capacity top tips for recording a podcast. 

Podcast 6 focuses on how digital technologies are radically changing some arts and cultural organisations' business models. 

Download Podcast 6 now and subscribe to the complete series on iTunes

Listen to the podcast and embed on your website

Interviews include US crowdfunding site Kickstarter which has recently launched in the UK, the BFI which talks about digital and its plans to launch the BFIPlayer, and Digital Theatre whose high quality British theatre productions are available to an international audience via an online platform and Samsung SmartTV partnership. 

What is the attention economy? 
What happens if you point a flip cam at Carmen? 
Do digital business models only work at scale?

Peter Tullin, Co-founder of innovative online shop Culture Label, Simon Tanner, Director of Digital Consultancy Services at Kings College London and digital, arts and technology journalist Patrick Hussey join John in the studio, debating all of the above as well as changing royalty distribution models and working in partnership.

Each programme in the series focuses on one of the themes at the core of the new Digital R&D Fund for the Arts: User generated content and social media; Digital distribution and exhibition; Mobile, location and games; Data and archives; Business Models; and Education and learning.

Keep up to date with all our podcasts on this site

Get involved

We'd like to hear your comments on the podcast and we'd also like to hear from you if you would like to contribute ideas to other programmes in the series. Get in touch on Twitter #artsdigital or email us digital@artscouncil.org.uk

Podcast 5 focuses on how organisations can use digital technologies for arts and cultural education and learning, not only for children and young people but also for those outside of the formal education system.

Download Podcast 5 now and subscribe to the series on iTunes

Listen now or embed Podcast 5 on your own website

Dave Patten, Head of New Media, Science Museum; Max Whitby, Co-Founder and CEO of Touchpress; and Kirsten Campbell-Howes, Director of Learning, at digital agency Soda join John in the studio to debate hot topics including: whether technology can and should replace teachers and the traditional structures of learning, how BYOD (bringing your own device) could see smartphones being used to aid - rather than distract from - learning in the classroom and museum environments, and the educational benefits of games.

Plus hear about a Jodi award-wining digital project from the National Trust to make their historic properties accessible to all, online resources from the British Library that open up possibilities for lifelong learning, and follow Tate Kids down the rabbit hole as they demonstrate their Wondermind game.

Each programme in the series will focus on one of the themes at the core of the new Digital R&D Fund for the Arts: User generated content and social media; Digital distribution and exhibition; Mobile, location and games; Data and archives; Business Models; and Education and learning.

Keep up to date with all our podcasts on this site

Get involved

We'd like to hear your comments on the podcast and we'd also like to hear from you if you would like to contribute ideas to other programmes in the series. Get in touch on Twitter #artsdigital or email us at digital@artscouncil.org.uk