Open Call of the MediaFutures project

Open Call for projects addressing the challenge of misinformation and disinformation launched by MediaFutures Digital Innovation Hub on the media chain

Startups and artists can now apply until 27 January 2022 (12pm noon (CET)) for equity free funding of up to €80,000 on innovative, creative and impactful ideas which address the issues of online misinformation and disinformation in different domains as part of the MediaFutures project which aims at contributing to high-quality media activities.

Applications for a second tranche of MediaFutures awards for artists to create work around misinformation, technology and data opened on 25 November. Artists are able to apply for up to €40,000 for collaborative work with startup businesses, or up to €30,000 for pure arts projects. Startup businesses can apply for €65,000 to create new products, or €80,000 to work with artists on innovation, under the European Commission-funded European Union’s Horizon 2020 framework.

MediaFutures is looking for ideas relating to quality journalism, transparency, democracy and science communications, all of which should look to counteract the negative impact of misinformation and disinformation within society. Artists can work from available datasets or work with their own, as well as reacting to current affairs, media stories or issues around media freedom and accuracy.

MediaFutures has three programme tracks open for applications from artists and artistic companies, startups, SMEs and groups of individuals:

• Artists for Media – a six month Residency programme for artists with an innovative concept to explore data and technology, and its impact on individuals and society
• Startups for Citizens – a six month Accelerator programme for startups to build a product or service that encourages novel, meaningful ways to engage with media content
• Startup meets Artist – a six month mixed Residency and Accelerator support programme for teams of startups and artists to collaboratively develop new ideas around data technology and the arts

Applications are being encouraged from those groups who are not as well-represented in the art and start-up worlds, or face additional barriers to entry, including those from ethnic minorities, women and non-binary individuals, the LGBTQ+ community, those with disabilities and those in lower-middle income countries. Applicants should be based in or be willing to relocate to Europe, the UK or selected non-EU territories, for the six-month period that the funding covers, subject to travel restrictions due to Covid-19.

For more information on how to apply, visit: https://mediafutures.eu/opencall/ and participate in our webinars on December 16th, 2021 and January 12th, 2022 at 1:00 PM (CET) to find out more.