The Arts Council of Northern Ireland allocated £60,000 to six organisations based in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry and Causeway Coast & Glens for digital arts projects. The funding comes through the National Lottery Organisations Digital Evolution Awards, backed by the National Lottery and Future Screens NI.

The programme targets groups new to digital arts or using unfamiliar immersive technologies. It has so far distributed £237,000 to support 24 projects region-wide. The awards process has concluded with funds fully committed.

North West Play Resource Centre, operating as The Playhouse in Derry/Londonderry, received £9,917 to extend its project The School on the Edge of Reality. The work adds a digital art room with interactive elements to a prior Halloween attraction.

The Nerve Centre in Derry/Londonderry gained £10,000 for Outpouring, an installation employing augmented reality, artificial intelligence and digital storytelling. Artist Joe Caslin developed it with Belfast youth for display at Riddells Warehouse in Belfast.

NI Science Festival in Belfast obtained £10,000 for Becoming (the dinner). The project features immersive soundscapes and haptic elements to examine motherhood, created by Helena Hamilton alongside Janie Doherty and Aisling McGeown.

Digital Arts Studios in Belfast secured £10,000 to run its XR Lab. The facility offers sessions and workshops on extended reality technologies, plus a planned 2026 showcase event.

Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust in County Londonderry was awarded £9,931 for Defensive Realities. Artist Robert Peters produced augmented reality and audio works at Second World War sites including RAF Limavady Airfield and Magilligan Strand.

Ludo Dao CIC in Belfast received £10,000 for Belfast-Chongqing Digital Handshake. The initiative creates bilingual digital content tied to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, working with Ulster University and partners in Chongqing.