Alt-w, the annual award scheme which supports Scottish creative talent and web-based digital innovation is pleased to announce the successful award-winners for 2007: Jaygo Bloom, Henry Cruickshank, ~in the fields, Matt Hulse, and Jason Nelson. Open to Scottish-based researchers and practitioners within the creative industries, awards were given to both emerging and established producers in the fields of visual arts, animation, and interactive film production. The 5 full production awards, in the amount of £5000 each, will give these practitioners the resources to bring their projects to fruition by July 2008.

In addition, 3 research and development bursaries in the amount of £1500 each were awarded to: Simon Biggs & Sue Hawksley, Iain Gardner, and Gayle Meikle. These awardees will use the R+D funding to evolve their ideas, enhance their technical proficiency, and develop new tools and methods. Their research-in-progress will be publicly presented in Scotland in Summer 2008.

Reflecting the diversity of new media work across Scotland, the proposed projects by the Alt-w awardees are wide-ranging: an interactive website that will encourage exchange between deaf and hearing filmmakers and viewers; an online comic strip which allows site visitors to participate and contribute; a physical visualisation of flocking and swarming behaviours inspired by the seabird colony at Bass Rock; and an examination of daily life in small Scottish communities, to name but a few.

Supported through investment by Scottish Screen and managed by New Media Scotland, Alt-w is a scheme that offers the unique opportunity for media producers to take time out to invent and to raise the international profile of Scotland's new media sector.


Initiated by Scottish Screen in 2000, Alt-w was produced until 2006 in partnership with Dundee City Council, Scottish Enterprise Tayside, Dundee College, University of Abertay, University of Dundee (School of Television and Imaging). From 2006 the Alt-w fund is being managed by New Media Scotland, the national strategic organisation for art and technology.

Since its beginnings in 2000, Alt-w has supported over 35 Scottish-based creative producers to develop innovative web-based productions using animation, software design, audio and moving image. The projects reflect the diversity of backgrounds of the applicants: professional artists, commercial, cultural and academic sectors. The awards support recent graduates as well as film-makers, freelance software programmers and interactive designers working within established creative entrepreneurs. More information on past projects and the history of Alt-w is available at http://www.alt-w.com/  website.

Please contact New Media Scotland with press or general enquiries: alt-w@mediascot.org  - 0131 477 3774.