Digital Circle

This is a list of twenty actions which were proposed and accepted by the Digital Circle Steering Group. Updated 5th November 2008.

1. [DONE] Digital Circle is affiliated to Momentum, the Northern Ireland ICT Trade Association. This, together with our membership base, will give Digital Circle the credibility and clout needed to get our views across to government and other public institutions.
2. [DONE] Appoint and employ a full-time network facilitator to help us in all our aims. This is Matt Johnston, based in Momentum
3. [DONE] Appoint and employ a part-time North-South network facilitator to help us organise, network and collaborate across the island.This is Anton Mannering of the Digital Media Forum in Dublin.
4. [DONE] Get our representative onto the Skillset panel - this is the (only) body that shapes the Education and Skills landscape.
5. [DONE] Open communications with DETI’s digital media unit so that we are consulted on future initiatives.
6. [DONE] Establish a communication with Channel 4’s new 4IP Digital Media Commissioning team. This £50M UK wide Digital Media fund has great potential for our industry.
7. [In Progress] Liaise with sources of public funding such as Invest NI who we are currently working with to widen and streamline their R&D funding programmes.
8. [In Progress] Liaise with sources of private funding. We’re working with others to connect to international networks of business angels who understand digital media. We have contacted HALO and the Equity Network with the intention to open a dialogue.
9. [In Progress] Membership drive with elections in November. To date, Digital Circle has been driven by volunteers from several companies. It should and will be fully democratic. A date for the launch event is being set as the 26th November. There is also a membership link for companies to register interest.
10. [In Progress] Open talks with Belfast City Council and InvestNI about the formation of a physical hub for Digital Content. This has progressed to the stage where we have had some initial support pledged from Belfast City Council - they have assisted in a grant bid from the Creative Industries Innovation Fund which has been submitted under the call for Sectoral Bodies. There is still a need to find a suitable location however. We are currently talking to the DSD regarding buildings in Belfast which were released for creative sector endeavours which might have free space in there - but the search for a suitable venue continues.
11. [To Do] Open communications with DCAL to ensure we are consulted on their future funding initiatives.
12. [In Progress] Build a cool web site which showcases our work and a web app to help us communicate. We’ve migrated from a static set of pages to a Wordpress installation which gives us much more flexibility and an updated blog. We’ll be entering posts profiling Digital Circle members and companies which are showcasing the creativity and innovation within the NI market.
13. [In Progress] Compile an online directory of member expertise and business specialities - so we can access each others talent effectively. This is going to be handled through a blog-post based Profile on Digital Content companies as well as a membership management solution.
14. [In Progress] Organise and facilitate software user groups with public funding to bring in keynote speakers, e.g. Ruby / AJAX / Flash-FLEX-AS3 / 3D Studio / PHP etc. Currently piloting this with a company and user group the facilitator is involved with: xCake.org - but will be extending this as soon as groups make themselves known. Flash/AIR and Ruby groups seem possible
15. [In Progress] Seek funds to subsidise attendance at important international digital media conferences, e.g. Web 2.0 Expo, RailsConf, Future of Web Apps / Design, SXSW etc. Building a positive working relationship with InvestNI Trade regarding attendance at some of these conferences.
16. [In Progress] Raise public support for local events to bring in keynote speakers (if necessary). We have provided direct support and attracted sponsorship to BarCampBelfast 08 and CreativeCamp Belfast 08. We will be providing support to Mobile Monday Belfast and other events.
17. [In Progress] Write to DETI and BT to demand faster broadband connections in Northern Ireland. Meeting with the Head of Regional Development at BT to discuss how they can help, what they can offer and how best to communicate that.
18. [To Do] Campaign for open and transparent public procurement as exists in RoI.
19. [To Do] Set up a workshop with the BBC on “How to get Digital Media Commissions from the BBC”
20. [To Do] Set up Ireland-wide industry sub-groups and seek funding for networking events, focus on “E-Learning”, “Mobile”, “Animation”.