On April 19, 2006 there is a launch of the ICTToronto Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Cluster Development Strategy happening at MaRS. Estelle Havva has set up a meeting with folks from ICT to meet with the BarCamp/DemoCamp people, whomever that might be (as Ken points out “there is no “you” in an unorganization”). There is a lot of buzz about BarCampToronto and DemoCamp as an enabling mechanism for innovation and entrepreneurship. We’re different than other organizations because we’re open and we’re less coherent and just about as relevant. Mark has done a great job talking up why we should be watched. Please RSVP and come out on Wednesday. If you think you would attend the meeting with us and the ICT people happen the week following (the meeting is scheduled the day after DemoCamp5, April 26, 2006) please drop me a note about why you should attend.
Ontario Media Development Corporation has a set of programs for cultural entrepreneurs including the Business Development which has funding availiable for Markets and Festivals Program and Sector Organization Support. These programs provide financing for third party initiatives that stimulate growth in the cultural media industries. I guess this is where iSummit falls. I’m wondering if as part of the evolution of BarCamp that we can take advantage of these funds.
Eligibility for the Market and Festivals Program states the following:
- The applicant must represent an established industry event that either has the business-to-business initiative already in place or is developing this activity. Proposals for new industry events will be considered, provided that the business to business element is clearly identified.
- Initiatives must demonstrate targeted business opportunities relevant to the commercial interests of Ontario companies involved in the film, television, magazine, book publishing,
sound recording, and interactive digital media industries, and must include clear potential for commercial transactions to take place.We’re back to a discussion about the clear potential for commercial transactions to take place at BarCamp (or something like BarCamp). Maybe looking towards other varied models like MashupCamp, MindCamp or something closer to Mesh might be a continuing way to grow or develop the community. With BarCampOttawa happening next weekend, it will the first idea of how we can make this transportable.
There are other opportunities to find support and funding including the Department of Canadian Heritage New Media Research Netowrks Fund that would require us to form a network with small businesses, not-for-profits, government research institutions and academic institutions for funding between 2007-2009. The objectives of this program are really interesting:
- Promote applied research and development in Canada’s culture and new media sectors
- Stimulate the development of new technology applications for the creation and management of digital cultural content
- Encourage collaboration on applied research at the intersection of culture and technology
This could be a great intersection for the BarCamp/DemoCamp community with Project Open Source, Habitat New Media Lab, Ryerson ImageArts program, OCAD’s Beale Centre, and any number of other programs and companies happening in the city.
There’s also the New Media Research and Development Initiative that has a deadline of May 1, 2006 for submitting an Expression of Interest letter. This program funding will be provided for R&D projects in the area of digital cultural content. The projects will result in technological innovations for use in the cultural sector. Specifically, funding will be provided for organizations developing innovations such as tools, processes and software that can be used in turn in creating, managing or delivering digital cultural content.
And the Canadian New Media Awards are happening May 29, 2005 at the Carlu. There’s lots of organizations funding/sponsoring this including: AIMS, OneDegree, ITAC, CATA, CHRC, WiredWoman, The Canadian Marketing Association, and Women in Film and Television.
I probably need to join ITAC and Toronto Board of Trade to stay in the loop.