Filmhouse is delighted to announce our involvement in two exciting new partnerships that will harness digital technologies for the benefit of the arts and cultural sector. The two projects were chosen along with four others to receive funding from the Scottish Digital Research and Development Fund for Arts and Culture run by NESTA, Creative Scotland and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The fund aims to support cultural organisations to work with digital experts to understand and test the potential offered by new technologies.

In partnership with Glasgow Film Theatre and Distrify, Filmhouse will use digital technology to expand audience reach and engagement through cinema curated video on demand by releasing a slate of six different films from autumn 2012.

In partnership with the Lyceum Theatre and other members of Edinburgh's Cultural Quarter (the Traverse Theatre and the Usher Hall), we will create a new shared online and mobile-based marketing programme, particularly designed for cross-selling between venues and targeting young adults and students.

The projects will be undertaken over the next 12 months and each will be rigorously evaluated to produce new data and research insights that can be shared with, and benefit, other organisations in the arts and culture sector. Jackie McKenzie, Head of Innovation Programmes Scotland for Nesta said: 'Arts and cultural organisations are at a pivotal moment in their development. Financial pressures are creating enormous challenges, but equally, digital technologies are opening up exciting possibilities for new markets to deepen and broaden audiences. We hope that by applying a rigorous research and development mindset to this Fund, we can uncover new ways of working that will help the entire sector to thrive.’

Ken Hay, CEO of Filmhouse, said: "It's fantastic that Filmhouse is involved in two of the six Scottish Digital R&D projects being funded by Nesta and Creative Scotland. We're delighted to be working in partnership with local and national partners in exploring how new digital technologies can better connect audiences with film – both online and in the cinema."